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diff --git a/old/44780-h.zip b/old/44780-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b253b1e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44780-h.zip diff --git a/old/44780-h/44780-h.htm b/old/44780-h/44780-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e184e08 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44780-h/44780-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8670 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bessie at the Sea-side, by Joanna H. Mathews. + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } +.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } +.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } +.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} +div.titlepage p { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; + margin-top: 2em; +} + +.small {font-size: small;} + +.signat {text-align: right; + margin-right: 15%;} + +.author {text-align: right; + margin-right: 0%; + font-variant: small-caps;} + +.hang {margin-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em;} + +.dropcap {float: left; + clear: left; + vertical-align: bottom; + margin-left: 0em; padding-right: 0.2em;} + +.largecap {display: none;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto;} + +.pagenum { position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: .8em; + text-align: right;} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.poetry-container { text-align: center;} + +.poem { display: inline-block; + text-align: left;} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + +.i2 {margin-left: 2em;} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +@media handheld {body {margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 2%;} + .largecap {display: inline; font-size: 2em;} + .dropcap {display: none;} + .poetry-container {display: block; margin-left: 1.5em;} + } + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bessie at the Sea-Side, by Joanna Mathews + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bessie at the Sea-Side + +Author: Joanna Mathews + +Release Date: January 28, 2014 [EBook #44780] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Diane Monico, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 543px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="543" height="800" alt="cover" /> +</div> + + +<p class="ph2"><i>BOOKS BY JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</i></p> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="jhmbooks"> +<tr><td align="center"><big>I. THE BESSIE BOOKS.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><small>6 vols. In a box. $7.50.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Seaside</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">City</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Friends</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mountains</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">School</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Travels</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><big>II. THE FLOWERETS</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><small>6 vols. In a box. $3.60.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Violet's Idol.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy's Work.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rose's Temptation.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lily's Lesson.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Hyacinthe and her Brothers.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Pinkie and the Rabbits.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><big>III. LITTLE SUNBEAMS.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><small>6 vols. In a box. $6.00.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Belle Powers' Locket.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dora's Motto.</span> 16mo.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lily Norris' Enemy.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jessie's Parrot.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mamie's Watchword.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nellie's Housekeeping.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><big>IV. KITTY AND LULU BOOKS.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><small>6 vols. In a box. $6.00.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Toutou and Pussy.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Kitty's Robins.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The White Rabbit.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rudie's Goat.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Kitty's Visit.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Kitty's Scrap-Book.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><big>V. MISS ASHTON'S GIRLS.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1. <span class="smcap">Fanny's Birthday</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2. <span class="smcap">The New Scholars</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">3. <span class="smcap">Rosalie's Pet</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">4. <span class="smcap">Eleanor's Visit</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">5. <span class="smcap">Mabel Walton</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><big>VI. HAPS AND MISHAPS.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><small>6 vols. In a box. $7.50.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1. <span class="smcap">Little Friends</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2. <span class="smcap">The Broken Mallet</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">3. <span class="smcap">Blackberry Jam</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">4. <span class="smcap">Milly's Whims</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">5. <span class="smcap">Lilies and Thistledown</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">6. <span class="smcap">Uncle Joe's Thanksgiving</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center">ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,</p> + +<p class="center"><i>New York</i>.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<img src="images/i-003.jpg" width="406" height="600" alt="FRONTISPIECE. Bessie at Sea Side." /> +<div class="caption">FRONTISPIECE.<br />Bessie at Sea Side.</div> +</div> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/i-004.jpg" width="364" height="600" alt="title page" /> +</div> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<p class="ph1"><i><span class="smcap">Bessie at the Sea-Side.</span></i></p> + +<p class="ph2"><span class="smcap"><i>by</i></span><br /> + +<i>JOANNA H. MATHEWS</i></p> + +<p class="ph3">"And a Little Child shall lead them."</p> + +<p class="ph4"> +<i>NEW YORK:<br /> +Robert Carter & Brothers</i>,<br /> +<span class="smcap"><small>530 Broadway.</small></span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap" /> +<p class="center small"> +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">Robert Carter and Brothers</span>,<br /> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the<br /> +Southern District of New York.<br /> +</p> +<hr class="chap" /> + + + +<p class="ph3">To my dear Mother,</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Whose "children arise up and call her blessed,"</i><br /> + +<small>IS THIS LITTLE VOLUME</small><br /> + +<i>Lovingly and gratefully dedicated</i></p> +<hr class="chap" /> + + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"><i>CONTENTS</i>.</a></h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="toc"> +<tr><td align="right" colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>I.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Sea-Shore</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>II.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Old Friends and New</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>III.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Letter</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>IV.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Quarrel</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>V.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Tom's Sunday-School</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>VI.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Post-Office</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>VII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>A New Friend</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>VIII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Bessie's Little Sermon</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>IX.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Faith</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>X.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Sick Baby</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XI.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Happy Circumstance</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Miss Adams</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XIII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Bessie's Repentance</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XIV.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Who is a Lady?</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XV.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Uncle John</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XVI.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Birthday Presents</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XVII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Birthday Party</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XVIII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Adventure</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XIX.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Soul and Instinct</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XX.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Nurse taken by Surprise</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XXI.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Colonel in Trouble</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_305">305</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XXII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>The Broken Nose</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><i>XXIII.</i></td><td align="left"><i>Jesus' Soldier</i>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<p class="ph1"><i>BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE.</i></p> + + +<h2><a name="I" id="I">I.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE SEA-SHORE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-010.jpg" alt="T" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">T</span>HE hotel carriage rolled away from Mr. Bradford's door with papa and +mamma, the two nurses and four little children inside, and such a lot +of trunks and baskets on the top; all on their way to Quam Beach. Harry +and Fred, the two elder boys, were to stay with grandmamma until their +school was over; and then they also were to go to the sea-side.</p> + +<p>The great coach carried them across the ferry, and then they all jumped +out and took their seats in the cars. It was a long, long ride, and +after they left the cars there were still three or four miles to go +in the stage, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> that it was quite dark night when they reached Mrs. +Jones's house. Poor little sick Bessie was tired out, and even Maggie, +who had enjoyed the journey very much, thought that she should be glad +to go to bed as soon as she had had her supper. It was so dark that the +children could not see the ocean, of which they had talked and thought +so much; but they could hear the sound of the waves as they rolled up +on the beach. There was a large hotel at Quam, but Mrs. Bradford did +not choose to go there with her little children; and so she had hired +all the rooms that Mrs. Jones could spare in her house. The rooms were +neat and clean, but very plain, and not very large, and so different +from those at home that Maggie thought she should not like them at all. +In that which was to be the nursery was a large, four-post bedstead +in which nurse and Franky were to sleep; and beside it stood an +old-fashioned trundle-bed, which was for Maggie and Bessie. Bessie was +only too glad to be put into it at once, but Maggie looked at it with +great displeasure.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I sha'n't sleep in that nasty bed," she said. "Bessie, don't do it."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said nurse, "it's a very nice bed; and if you are going to be +a naughty child, better than you deserve. That's a great way you have +of calling every thing that don't just suit you, 'nasty.' I'd like to +know where you mean to sleep, if you don't sleep there."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to ask mamma to make Mrs. Jones give us a better one," said +Maggie; and away she ran to the other room where mamma was undressing +the baby. "Mamma," she said, "won't you make Mrs. Jones give us a +better bed? That's just a kind of make-believe bed that nurse pulled +out of the big one, and I know I can't sleep a wink in it."</p> + +<p>"I do not believe that Mrs. Jones has another one to give us, dear," +said her mother. "I know it is not so pretty as your little bed at +home, but I think you will find it very comfortable. When I was a +little girl, I always slept in a trundle-bed, and I never rested +better. If you do not sleep a wink, we will see what Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> Jones can do +for us to-morrow; but for to-night I think you must be contented with +that bed; and if my little girl is as tired as her mother, she will be +glad to lie down anywhere."</p> + +<p>Maggie had felt like fretting a little; but when she saw how pale and +tired her dear mother looked, she thought she would not trouble her by +being naughty, so she put up her face for another good-night kiss, and +ran back to the nursery.</p> + +<p>"O, Maggie," said Bessie, "this bed is yeal nice and comf'able; come +and feel it." So Maggie popped in between the clean white sheets, +and in two minutes she had forgotten all about the trundle-bed and +everything else.</p> + +<p>When Bessie woke up the next morning, she saw Maggie standing by the +open window, in her night-gown, with no shoes or stockings on. "O, +Maggie," she said, "mamma told us not to go bare-feeted, and you are."</p> + +<p>"I forgot," said Maggie; and she ran back to the bed and jumped in +beside Bessie. "Bessie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> there's such lots and lots of water out there! +You never saw so much, not even in the reservoir at the Central Park."</p> + +<p>"I guess it's the sea," said Bessie; "don't you know mamma said we +would see water and water ever so far, and we couldn't see the end of +it?"</p> + +<p>"But I do see the end of it," said Maggie; "mamma was mistaken. I saw +where the sky came down and stopped the sea; and, Bessie, I saw such a +wonderful thing,—the sun came right up out of the water."</p> + +<p>"O, Maggie, it couldn't; <i>you</i> was mistaken. If it went in the water it +would be put out."</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Maggie, "it <i>was</i> the sun, and it is shining right +there now. It isn't put out a bit. I woke up and I heard that noise +mamma told us was the waves, and I wanted to see them, so I went to +look, and over there in the sky was a beautiful red light; and in a +minute I saw something bright coming out of the water away off; and it +came higher and higher, and got so bright I could not look at it, and +it was the sun, I know it was."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, Maggie, how didn't it get put out if it went in the water?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Maggie, "I'm going to ask papa."</p> + +<p>Just then nurse and Jane came in with water for the children's bath, +and before they were dressed, there was papa at the door asking if +there were any little girls ready to go on the beach and find an +appetite for breakfast. After that, nurse could scarcely dress them +fast enough, and in a few moments they were ready to run down to the +front porch where papa was waiting for them.</p> + +<p>"O, papa, what a great, great water the sea is!" said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; and what a great and wise God must He be who made this wide +sea and holds it in its place, and lets it come no farther than He +wills."</p> + +<p>"Papa," said Maggie, "I saw the wonderfulest thing this morning."</p> + +<p>"The most wonderful," said her father.</p> + +<p>"The most wonderful," repeated Maggie.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> "It was indeed, papa, and you +need not think I was mistaken, for I am quite, quite sure I saw it."</p> + +<p>"And what was this most wonderful thing you are so very sure you saw, +Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"It was the sun, papa, coming right up out of the water, and it was not +put out a bit. It came up, up, away off there, where the sky touches +the water. Mamma said we could not see the end of the ocean, but I see +it quite well. Do not you see it, too, papa?"</p> + +<p>"I see what appears to be the end of the ocean, but these great waters +stretch away for many hundred miles farther. If you were to get on a +ship and sail away as far as you can see from here, you would still +see just as much water before you, and the sea and the sky would still +appear to touch each other: and however far you went it would always be +so, until you came where the land bounds the ocean on the other side. +The place where the sky and water seem to meet, is called the horizon; +and it is because they do seem to touch,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> that the sun appeared to +you to come out of the water. It is rather a difficult thing for such +little girls as you and Bessie to understand, but I will try to make +it plain to you. You know that the earth is round, like a ball, do you +not, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, papa."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose that you think that the sun is moving when it seems to +come up in the morning, and goes on and on, till it is quite over our +heads, and then goes down on the other side of the sky until we can see +it no more, do you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, papa."</p> + +<p>"But it is really the earth on which we live, and not the sun, which is +moving. Once in twenty-four hours, which makes one day and one night, +the earth turns entirely round, so that a part of the time one side is +turned to the sun, and a part of the time the other side. See if you +can find me a small, round stone, Maggie."</p> + +<p>Maggie looked around till she found such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> stone as her father wanted, +and brought it to him. "Now," he said, "this stone shall be our earth, +and this scratch the place where we live. We will take off Bessie's hat +and have that for the sun. Now I will hold the mark which stands for +our home, directly in front of our make-believe sun. If a bright light +were coming from the sun and shining on our mark here, it would be the +middle of the day or noon, while it would be dark on the other side. +Then, as our earth moved slowly around in this way, and we turned from +the sun it would become afternoon; and as we turned farther yet till +we were quite away from the sun, it would be night. But we do not stay +there in the dark, for we still go moving slowly round until our side +of the earth comes towards the light again, and the darkness begins to +pass away. The nearer we come to the sun the lighter it grows, until, +if some little girl who lives on our scratch is up early enough and +looks out at the horizon, or place where the earth and sky seem to +meet, she sees the sun showing himself little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> by little; and it looks +to her as if he were coming up out of the sea, while all the time the +sun is standing still, and the earth on which we live is moving round +so as to bring her once more opposite to him."</p> + +<p>"And is it night on the other side of the world?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is no sun there now, and it is dark night for the little +children who live there."</p> + +<p>"And are they going to have their supper while we have our brefix?" +asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Just about so, I suppose," said papa.</p> + +<p>"But, papa," said Maggie with very wide open eyes, "do you mean that +the world is going to turn way over on the other side tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear."</p> + +<p>"Then we will fall off," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Did you fall off last night?" asked papa.</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"And you have been living for nearly seven years, and every day of your +life the earth has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> turned around in the same way, and you have never +yet fallen off, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, papa."</p> + +<p>"Nor will you to-night, my little girl. The good and wise God who has +made our earth to move in such a way as to give us both light and +darkness as we need them, has also given to it a power to draw towards +itself, all things that live or grow upon its surface. Do you know what +surface means?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, papa,—the top."</p> + +<p>"Yes, or the outside. Suppose you were to fall off the top of the +house, Maggie, where would you fall to?"</p> + +<p>"Down in the street and be killed," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, down to the street or ground, and probably you would be killed. +And it is because of this power which the earth has of drawing to +itself all things that are upon it, that you would not fly off into the +air and keep on falling, falling, for no one knows how many miles. It +is too hard a thing for you to understand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> much about now, but when you +are older you shall learn more. But we have had a long enough lesson +for this morning. We will walk about a little, and see if we can find +some shells before we go in to breakfast."</p> + +<p>They found a good many shells: some little black ones which Maggie +called curlecues, and some white on the outside and pink inside. Then +there were a few which were fluted, which the children said were the +prettiest of all. They thought the beach was the best playground they +had ever seen, and they were about right. First, there was the strip +of smooth, white sand, on which the waves were breaking into beautiful +snowy foam, with such a pleasant sound; then came another space full of +pebbles and stones and sea-weed, with a few shells and here and there +a great rock; then more rocks and stones with a coarse kind of grass +growing between them; and beyond these, a few rough fir trees which +looked as if they found it hard work to grow there. Last of all was a +long, sloping bank, on top of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> stood Mr. Jones's house and two or +three others; and farther down the shore, the great hotel. And the air +was so fresh and cool, with such a pleasant smell of the salt water.</p> + +<p>Maggie was full of fun and spirits, and raced about till her cheeks +were as red as roses. There were several other people on the beach, and +among them were some little boys and girls. Two or three of these, when +they saw Maggie running about in such glee began to race with her, but +the moment she noticed them she became shy and ran away from them to +her father and Bessie who were walking quietly along.</p> + +<p>"Papa," said Bessie "isn't it delicious?"</p> + +<p>"Is not what delicious, my darling."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Bessie. "<i>It.</i> I like Quam Beach, papa. I wish New +York was just like this."</p> + +<p>"It is this cool, fresh sea-breeze that you like so much, Bessie."</p> + +<p>"And I like to see the water, papa, and to hear the nice noise it +makes."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it's so pleasant here," said Maggie. "Let's stay here always, +papa, and never go home."</p> + +<p>"What! and sleep in the trundle-bed all your lives?" said papa.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Maggie, "I hate that bed. I believe I <i>did</i> sleep a +little bit last night, because I was so tired; but I know I can't sleep +in it to-night."</p> + +<p>"Well," said papa, "I think we will try it for a night or two longer."</p> + +<p>And then they all went in to breakfast.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II">II.</a><br /><br /> + +OLD FRIENDS AND NEW.</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-024.jpg" alt="A" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">A</span>FTER breakfast they went out again. Mr. Bradford and his little girls +were standing in the porch waiting for mamma who was going with them, +when Mr. Jones came up from the shore. He had been fishing, and looked +rather rough and dirty, but he had a pleasant, good-natured face.</p> + +<p>"Mornin' sir," he said to Mr. Bradford; "folks pretty spry?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty well, thank you," said Mr. Bradford; "you have been out early +this morning."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm generally stirrin' round pretty early; been out since afore +day-light. S'pose these are your little girls. How are you, Miss +Bradford?" he said, holding out his hand.</p> + +<p>But shy Maggie hung her head and drew a little away behind her father.</p> + +<p>"Why, Maggie," said Mr. Bradford, "you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> are not polite; shake hands +with Mr. Jones, my daughter."</p> + +<p>"Not if she hain't a mind to," said Mr. Jones. "I see she's a bashful +puss, but she'll feel better acquainted one of these days."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she will;" said Bessie, "and then she won't be shy with you; but +I'm not shy now, and I'll shake hands with you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones took the tiny little hand she offered him with a smile.</p> + +<p>"No, I see you ain't shy, and I don't want you to be; you, nor your +sister neither. Goin' down to the shore, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, when mamma comes," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see that big barn out there; when you come back you both +come out there. You'll find me inside, and I'll show you something will +soon cure all shyness; that is, if you like it as much as most young +folks do."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"It's a scup."</p> + +<p>"Will it bite?" said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Bite! Don't you know what a scup is?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She knows it by the name of a swing," said Mr. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I know a swing; and I like it too. We'll come, Mr. Jones."</p> + +<p>"Is it quite safe for them?" asked Mr. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Quite safe, sir. I put it up last Summer for some little people who +were staying here; and Sam, he's my eldest son, he made a seat with +back and arms, and a rung along the front to keep them in,—a fall on +the barn floor wouldn't feel good, that's a fact; but it's as safe as +strong ropes and good work can make it. I'll take care they don't get +into no mischief with it; but come along with the little ones and see +for yourself." And then with a nod to Maggie, who was peeping at him +out of the corners of her eyes, Mr. Jones took up his basket of fish +and walked away to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said Maggie, as they went down to the beach, "do you like +that man?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," said Bessie; "don't you?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, not much. But, Bessie, did you hear what he called me?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie, "I did not hear him call you anything."</p> + +<p>"He called me Miss Bradford," said Maggie, holding up her head and +looking very grand.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bessie, "I suppose he was mad because you wouldn't shake +hands with him."</p> + +<p>"No," said Maggie, "it was before that; he said, 'how do you do, Miss +Bradford;' and, Bessie, I like to be called Miss Bradford; and I guess +I'll like him because he did it, even if he <i>does</i> smell of fish. I +think he only wanted to be <i>respectable</i> to me."</p> + +<p>They found a good many people upon the beach now, and among them were +some ladies and gentlemen whom Mr. and Mrs. Bradford knew, and while +they stopped to speak to them, Maggie and Bessie wandered off a little +way, picking up shells and sea-weed and putting them into a basket +which their mother had given them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>Presently a boy and girl came up to them. They were the children of one +of the ladies who was talking to Mrs. Bradford, and their mother had +sent them to make acquaintance with Maggie and Bessie.</p> + +<p>"What's your name," said the boy, coming right up to Maggie. Maggie +looked at him without speaking, and, putting both hands behind her, +began slowly backing away from him.</p> + +<p>"I say," said the boy, "what's your name? My mother sent us to make +friends with you; but we can't do it, if you won't tell us what your +name is."</p> + +<p>"Her name is Miss Bradford," said Bessie, who wanted to please her +sister, and who herself thought it rather fine for Maggie to be called +Miss Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Oh! and you're another Miss Bradford, I suppose," said the boy, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Why! so I am," said Bessie; "I didn't think about that before. Maggie +we're two Miss Bradfords."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, two Miss Bradfords, I hope we find you pretty well this morning. +My name is Mr. Stone, and my sister's is Miss Stone."</p> + +<p>"'Tain't," said the little girl, crossly, "it's nothing but Mary."</p> + +<p>"Sure enough," said her brother; "she's just Miss Mary, quite contrary; +whatever you say, she'll say just the other thing; that's her way."</p> + +<p>"Now, Walter, you stop," said Mary in a whining, fretful voice.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mamie, you stop," mimicked her brother.</p> + +<p>"I think we wont be acquainted with you," said Bessie. "I am afraid you +are not very good children."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so," asked Walter.</p> + +<p>"'Cause you quarrel," said Bessie; "good children don't quarrel, and +Jesus won't love you if you do."</p> + +<p>"What a funny little tot you are," said Walter. "I won't quarrel with +you, but Mamie is so cross I can't help quarrelling with her. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> like +girls, and I want to play with you, and your sister, too, if she'll +speak. I have a splendid wagon up at the hotel and I'll bring it and +give you a first-rate ride if you like. Come, let us make friends, and +tell me your first name, Miss Bradford, No. 2."</p> + +<p>"It's Bessie, and my sister's is Maggie."</p> + +<p>"And don't you and Maggie ever quarrel?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no," said Maggie, coming out of her shy fit when she heard this, +"Bessie is my own little sister."</p> + +<p>"Well, and Mamie is my own sister, and you see we quarrel for all that. +But never mind that now. I'll go for my wagon and give you a ride; will +you like it?"</p> + +<p>"I will," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Walter came back with his wagon. Maggie and Bessie +thought he was quite right when he called it splendid. They told him +it was the prettiest wagon they had ever seen. He said he would give +Bessie the first ride, and he lifted her in and told Maggie and Mamie +to push behind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I sha'n't," said Mamie; "I want a ride, too; there's plenty of room, +Bessie's so little."</p> + +<p>"No, it will make it too heavy," said Walter. "You shall ride when your +turn comes."</p> + +<p>Mamie began to cry, and Bessie said she would get out and let her ride +first; but Walter said she should not.</p> + +<p>"There comes Tom," said Mamie; "he'll help you pull."</p> + +<p>The children looked around, and there was a boy rather larger than +Walter coming towards them.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Tom Norris!" said Maggie; "do you know him?"</p> + +<p>And sure enough it was their own Tom Norris, whom they loved so much. +He ran up to them and kissed Maggie and Bessie, as if he were very glad +to see them.</p> + +<p>"Why, Tom," said Bessie, "I didn't know you came here."</p> + +<p>"I came night before last, with father," said Tom. "We came to take +rooms at the hotel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> and I wanted to stay; so father left me with Mrs. +Stone, and he has gone home for mother and Lily, and the whole lot and +scot of them; they're all coming to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I am so glad," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Tom! can't I ride?" asked Mamie.</p> + +<p>"You must ask Walter," said Tom; "the wagon is his; what are you crying +about, Mamie?"</p> + +<p>Walter told what the trouble was.</p> + +<p>"Come, now, Mamie, be good, and you shall ride with Bessie, and I will +help Walter pull." Mamie was put into the seat by Bessie, and then Tom +said they must find room for Maggie, too. So he made her sit on the +bottom of the wagon, and off they started. Of course they were crowded, +but the two children who were good-natured did not mind that at all, +and would have been quite happy had it not been for Mamie. She fretted +and complained so much that at last the boys were out of patience and +took her out of the wagon.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Walter, as the cross, selfish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> child went off screaming +to her mother, "Mamie is the only girl, and the youngest, and she has +been so spoiled there is no living with her."</p> + +<p>They were all happier when she had gone, and had a nice long play +together.</p> + +<p>Tom Norris was twelve years old, but he did not think himself too large +to play with or amuse such little girls as Maggie and Bessie, who were +only seven and five; and as he was always kind and good to them, they +loved him dearly. Grown people liked him too, and said he was a perfect +little gentleman. But Tom was better than that, for he was a true +Christian; and it was this which made him so kind and polite to every +one.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Bradford came to call his little girls to go home, he found +them telling Tom and Walter about the swing which Mr. Jones had +promised them, and he invited the boys to go with them and see it. So +they all went back together.</p> + +<p>When they reached home Mr. Bradford told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> them they might go on to +the barn while he went into the house for a few minutes. The great +barn-doors were open, and Mr. Jones and his son, Sam, were busy inside. +Just outside the door sat Mrs. Jones with a pan full of currants in +her lap which she was stringing. There was a sheep skin on the ground +beside her, and on it sat her fat baby, Susie. Two kittens were playing +on the grass a little way off, and Susie wanted to catch them. She +would roll herself over on her hands and knees, and creep to the edge +of her sheep skin, but just as she reached it her mother's hand would +take her by the waist and lift her back to the place from which she +started. Susie would sit still for a moment, as if she was very much +astonished, and then try again, always to be pulled back to the old +spot. But when she saw Maggie and Bessie she forgot the kittens and sat +quite still with her thumb in her mouth staring at them with her great +blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Jones," said Bessie, "these are our friends. One is an old friend, +and his name is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> Tom; and one is a new friend, and his name is Walter. +They have come to see that thing you don't call a swing."</p> + +<p>"They're both welcome if they're friends of yours," said Mr. Jones. +"I'll show you the scup in a few minutes, as soon as I finish this job +I'm about."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Jones," said Bessie, "is that your baby?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Jones, "what do you think of her?"</p> + +<p>"I think she is fat," answered Bessie. "May we help you do that, Mrs. +Jones?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you'll stain your frocks, and what would your ma say then?"</p> + +<p>"She'd say you oughtn't to let us do it."</p> + +<p>"Just so," said Mrs. Jones. "No, I can't let you help me, but I'll tell +you what I'll do. I am going to make pies out of these currants and +I'll make you each a turnover; sha'n't you like that?"</p> + +<p>"What is a turnover," asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know what a turnover is? You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> wait and see; you'll like 'em +when you find out. You can play with Susie if you've a mind to."</p> + +<p>But Susie would not play, she only sat and stared at the children, and +sucked her thumb. Pretty soon papa came, and when Mr. Jones was ready +they all went into the barn.</p> + +<p>The swing was fastened up to a hook in the wall, but Mr. Jones soon had +it down; and Mr. Bradford tried it and found it quite safe and strong. +The seat was large enough to hold both the little girls, if they sat +pretty close, so they were both put into it, and papa gave them a fine +swing. Then the boys took their turn; and Mr. Jones told them they +might come and swing as often as they liked.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III">III.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE LETTER.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-037.jpg" alt="Y" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">Y</span>OU are not going to hear all that Maggie and Bessie did every day at +the sea-shore, but only a few of the things that happened to them.</p> + +<p>They liked Quam Beach more and more. Maggie did not mind the +trundle-bed so very much after a night or two, though she never seemed +to grow quite used to it; and Bessie, who had been weak and sick when +they left home, became stronger, and was soon able to run about more +with the other children.</p> + +<p>After a few days they began to bathe in the sea. Maggie was afraid at +first, and cried when she was carried into the water; but the second +time she was braver, and she soon came to like it almost as well as +Bessie, who never was ready to come out when it was thought she had +been in long enough. She would beg her father or the bathing-woman to +let her stay just one minute<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> more; and she would laugh when the waves +came dashing over her, so that sometimes the salt water would get into +her little mouth. But she did not mind it, and begged for another and +another wave, until papa would say that it was high time for her to +come out. Mamma said she had never seen Bessie enjoy anything so much, +and it made her feel very happy to see her little girl growing well and +strong again.</p> + +<p>Bessie loved the sea very much, and often when her sister and little +companions were playing, she would sit quietly on some rock, looking +away out over the wide, beautiful waters, or watching and listening to +the waves as they came rolling up on the beach. People who were passing +used to turn and look at her, and smile when they saw the sweet little +face, which looked so grave and wise. But if any stranger asked her +what she was thinking about, she would only say, "Thoughts, ma'am."</p> + +<p>Maggie did not like to sit still as Bessie did. She was well and fat +and rosy, and full of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> fun when she was with people she knew; and she +liked to play better than to sit on the rocks and watch the water, but +she seldom went far away from Bessie, and was always running to her +with some pretty shell or sea-weed she had found. She and Bessie and +Lily Norris would play in the sand and make little ponds or wells, and +sand pies, or pop the air bags in the sea-weed; or have some other +quiet play which did not tire Bessie. Very often Walter Stone and Tom +Norris gave them a ride in the wagon; or Tom told them nice stories; +and sometimes they all went out on the water in Mr. Jones's boat, or +took a drive with papa and mamma. Before they had been at Quam Beach +many days, they knew quite a number of the children who were staying +there; and they liked almost all of them, except fretful Mamie Stone, +who made herself so disagreeable that no one cared to play with her. In +short, there were so many things to do, and so much to see, that the +day was never long enough for them.</p> + +<p>Then they made friends with Toby, Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> Jones' great white dog. He was +an ugly old fellow, and rather gruff and unsociable; but, like some +people, he was in reality better than he appeared. He would never allow +any grown person but his master to pet him; and if any one tried to +pat him or make him play, he would walk away and seat himself at a +distance, with an offended air which seemed to say, "What a very silly +person you are; do you not know that I am too grave and wise a dog to +be pleased with such nonsense!"</p> + +<p>But he was not so with little children. Though he would not play, he +let Susie and Franky pull his ears and tail, and roll and tumble over +him as much as they liked without giving them one growl. Maggie and +Bessie were rather afraid of him at first, but they soon found he was +not as fierce as he looked, and after Mr. Jones had told them how +he saved a little boy from drowning the last summer, they liked him +better, and soon came to have no fear of him.</p> + +<p>This boy had been one of those who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> boarding in the house last +year, and was a disobedient, mischievous child. One day he wanted to +go down on the beach, but it was not convenient for any one to go with +him, and his mother told him he must wait. He watched till no one saw +him, and then ran off followed by Toby, who seemed to know that he was +in mischief.</p> + +<p>When the child reached the beach, he pulled off his shoes and stockings +and went to the water's edge where the waves could dash over his feet. +He went a little farther and a little farther, till at last a wave came +which was too strong for him. It threw him down and carried him out +into deeper water, and in another minute he would have been beyond help +had not Toby dashed in and seized hold of him. It was hard work for +Toby, for he was not a water-dog; but he held the boy till a man, who +had seen it all, came running to his help and pulled the boy out.</p> + +<p>After this, Toby would never let the child go near the water all the +time he staid at Quam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> Beach. If he tried to go, Toby would take hold +of his clothes with his teeth, and no coaxings or scoldings would make +him let go till the boy's face was turned the other way.</p> + +<p>Toby was of great use to Mrs. Jones; she said that he was as good as a +nurse. Every day she used to put Susie to sleep in a room at the head +of the garret stairs. Then she would call the dog, and leave him to +take care of the baby while she went about her work; and it seemed as +if Toby knew the right hour for Susie's nap, for he was never out of +the way at that time. He would lie and watch her till she woke up, and +then go to the head of the stairs and bark till Mrs. Jones came. Then +he knew that his duty was done, and he would walk gravely down stairs. +Sometimes Mrs. Jones put Susie on the kitchen floor, and left Toby to +look after her. He would let her crawl all round unless she went near +the fire, or the open door or kitchen stairs, when he would take her by +the waist and lift her back to the place where her mother had left her. +Susie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> would scold him as well as she knew how, and pound him with her +little fist; but he did not care one bit for that.</p> + +<p>After a time Bessie grew quite fond of Toby. Maggie did not like him +so much. She liked a dog who would romp and play with her, which Toby +would never do. If his master or mistress did not want him, Toby was +generally to be found lying on the porch or sitting on the edge of the +bank above the beach, looking down on the people who were walking or +driving there. Bessie would sit down beside him and pat his rough head, +and talk to him in a sweet, coaxing voice, and he would blink his eyes +at her and flap his heavy tail upon the ground in a way that he would +do for no one else.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said Maggie, one day, as her sister sat patting the great +dog, "what makes you like Toby so much; do you think he is pretty?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Bessie, "I don't think he is pretty, but I think he is +very good and wise."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But he is not so wise as Jemmy Bent's Shock," said Maggie; "he does +not know any funny tricks."</p> + +<p>Jemmy Bent was a poor lame boy, and Shock was his dog,—a little +Scotch terrier with a black shaggy coat, and a pair of sharp, bright +eyes peeping out from the long, wiry hair which hung about his face. +He had been taught a great many tricks, and Maggie thought him a very +wonderful dog, but Bessie had never seemed to take much of a fancy to +him.</p> + +<p>"But he is very useful," said Bessie, "and I don't think Shock is +pretty either; I think he is very ugly, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Maggie; "but then he looks so funny and smart: I think +he looks a great deal nicer than Toby."</p> + +<p>"I don't," said Bessie, "I don't like the look of Shock; the first time +I saw him I didn't think he was a dog."</p> + +<p>"What did you think he was?"</p> + +<p>"I thought he was <i>a animal</i>," said Bessie, "and I was afraid of him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And are you afraid of him now?"</p> + +<p>"No, not much; but I had rather he'd stay under the bed when I go to +see Jemmy."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't," said Maggie, "and I can't like Toby so much as Shock. No, +I can't, Toby, and you need not look at me so about it."</p> + +<p>Maggie's opinion did not seem to make the least difference to Toby; he +only yawned and blinked his eyes at her.</p> + +<p>When Maggie and Bessie had been at Quam Beach about a week, they woke +one morning to find it was raining hard, and Mr. Jones said he hoped it +would keep on, for the rain was much needed. The little girls hoped it +would not, for they did not like to stay in the house all day. About +eleven o'clock they went to their mother and told her they had promised +to write a letter to Grandpapa Duncan, and asked if they might do it +now. Mamma was busy, and told them that she could not write it for them +at that time.</p> + +<p>"But, mamma," said Maggie, "we don't want you to write it for us; +grandpapa will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> like it better if we do it all ourselves. I can print +it, and Bessie will help me make it up."</p> + +<p>So mamma gave them a sheet of paper and a pencil, and they went off in +a corner to write their letter. They were very busy over it for a long +while. When it was done they brought it to their mother to see if it +was all right. There were a few mistakes in the spelling which Mrs. +Bradford corrected; but it was very nicely printed for such a little +girl as Maggie. This was the letter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Grandpapa Duncan</span>,—</p> + +<p>"Maggie and Bessie are making up this letter, but I am +printing, because Bessie is too little. We hope you are +well, and Bessie is better and I am very well, thank you, +and every body. It rains, and we have nothing to do, and +so we are writing you a letter. We like this place; it is +nice. There is a great deal of sea here. There are two +kittens here. Mrs. Jones made us a turnover. The old cat is +very cross. Mrs. Jones put currants in it, and she put it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +in the oven and the juice boiled out and made it sticky, +and it was good and we eat it all up. Dear grandpa, we hope +you are well. This is from us, Maggie and Bessie. Good-by, +dear grandpa. P. S.—We can't think of anything else to +say. My hand is tired, too.</p> + +<p class="signat">"Your beloved</p> + +<p class="author">"<span class="smcap">Maggie and Bessie</span>.</p> + +<p>"Another P. S.—God bless you."</p></div> + +<p>Mamma said it was a very nice letter, and she folded it and put it in +an envelope. Then she directed it to Mr. Duncan, and put a postage +stamp on it, so that it was all ready to go with the rest of the +letters when Mr. Jones went to the post-office in the evening.</p> + +<p>But you must learn a little about the dear old gentleman to whom the +children had been writing. His name was Duncan, and he lived at a +beautiful place called Riverside, a short distance from New York. +He was not really the children's grandfather, but his son, Mr. John +Duncan, had married their Aunt Helen; and as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> were as fond of him +as he was of them, he had taught them to call him Grandpapa Duncan.</p> + +<p>A little way from Riverside lived a poor widow named Bent. She had a +son, who a year or two since had fallen from a wall and hurt his back, +so that the doctor said he would never walk or stand again. Day after +day he lay upon his bed, sometimes suffering very much, but always +gentle, patient, and uncomplaining.</p> + +<p>Jemmy was often alone, for hours at a time; for his mother had to work +hard to get food and medicine for her sick boy; and his sister, Mary, +carried radishes and cresses, and other green things to sell in the +streets of the city. But Jemmy's Bible and Prayer-book were always at +his side, and in these the poor helpless boy found comfort when he was +tired and lonely.</p> + +<p>To buy a wheel chair, in which Jemmy might be out of doors, and be +rolled from place to place without trouble or pain to himself, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> the +one great wish of Mrs. Bent and Mary; and they were trying to put by +money enough for this. But such a chair cost a great deal; and though +they saved every penny they could, the money came very slowly, and it +seemed as if it would be a long while before Jemmy had his chair.</p> + +<p>Now Mrs. Bradford was one of Mary's customers; so it happened that the +children had often seen her when she came with her basket of radishes. +Bessie used to call her "yadishes," for she could not pronounce <i>r</i>: +but neither she nor Maggie had ever heard of the poor lame boy, till +one day when they were at Riverside. Playing in the garden, they saw +Mary sitting outside the gate, counting over the money she had made +by the sale of her radishes: and as they were talking to her, it came +about that she told them of the sick brother lying on his bed, never +able to go out and breathe the fresh air, or see the beautiful blue sky +and green trees, in this lovely Summer weather; and how she and her +mother were working and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> saving, that they might have enough to buy the +easy chair.</p> + +<p>Our little girls were very much interested, and went back to the house +very eager and anxious to help buy the chair for Jemmy; and finding +Grandpapa Duncan on the piazza, they told him the whole story. Now our +Maggie and Bessie had each a very troublesome fault. Bessie had a quick +temper, and was apt to fly into a passion; while Maggie was exceedingly +careless and forgetful, sometimes disobeying her parents from sheer +heedlessness, and a moment's want of thought. When Mr. Duncan heard +about Jemmy Bent, he proposed a little plan to the children, that +pleased them very much.</p> + +<p>This was about a month before they were to leave the city for the +sea-shore. Grandpapa Duncan promised that for each day, during the next +three weeks, in which Bessie did not lose her temper and give way to +one of her fits of passion, or in which Maggie did not fall into any +great carelessness or disobedience,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> he would give twenty cents to each +little girl. At the end of three weeks this would make eight dollars +and forty cents. When they had earned this much he would add the rest +of the money that was needed to buy the wheel chair, and they should +have the pleasure of giving it to Jemmy themselves.</p> + +<p>The children were delighted, and promised to try hard, and they +did do their best. But it was hard work, for they were but little +girls,—Bessie only five, Maggie not quite seven. Bessie had some hard +battles with her temper. Maggie had to watch carefully that she was not +tempted into forgetfulness and disobedience. And one day Maggie failed +miserably, for she had trusted to her own strength, and not looked for +help from above. But Grandpapa Duncan gave her another trial; and, as +even such young children may do much toward conquering their faults if +they try with all their hearts, the money was all earned, the chair +bought, and Maggie and Bessie carried it to lame Jemmy. Then it would +have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> been hard to tell who were the most pleased, the givers or the +receivers.</p> + +<p>Nor did Maggie and Bessie cease after this to struggle with their +faults, for from this time there was a great improvement to be seen in +both.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV">IV.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE QUARREL.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-053.jpg" alt="M" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">M</span>R. JONES had another errand to do when he went to the post-office, +which was to go to the railway station for Harry and Fred, whose +vacation had begun. Grandmamma and Aunt Annie came with them, but they +went to the hotel, and Maggie and Bessie did not see them till the next +morning. How glad the little girls were to have their brothers with +them; and what a pleasure it was to take them round the next day and +show them all that was to be seen!</p> + +<p>"Maggie and Bessie," said Harry, "I saw a great friend of yours on +Saturday; guess who it was."</p> + +<p>"Grandpa Hall," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"No; guess again. We went out to Riverside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> to spend the day, and it +was there we saw him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know!" said Bessie, "it was lame Jemmy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was lame Jemmy, and he was as chirp as a grasshopper. He was +sitting up in his chair out under the trees; and you never saw a fellow +so happy, for all he is lame. Why, if I was like him, and couldn't go +about, I should be as cross as a bear."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, you wouldn't, Harry," said Bessie; "not if you knew it was God +who made you lame."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I should, though; I'm not half as good as he is."</p> + +<p>"But you could ask Jesus to make you good and patient like Jemmy, and +then He would."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Harry, "he's mighty good, anyhow; and Fred and I gave him +a first-rate ride in his chair ever so far up the road. He liked it, I +can tell you; and he asked such lots of questions about you two. And +what do you think he is learning to do?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What?" asked both his little sisters.</p> + +<p>"To knit stockings for the soldiers."</p> + +<p>"What! a boy?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes; Aunt Helen sent some yarn to his mother to knit socks; and Jemmy +wanted to learn so that he could do something for his country, if he +was a lame boy, he said. Aunt Helen pays Mrs. Bent for those she makes, +but Jemmy told her if he might use some of her yarn he would like to do +it without pay, and she gave him leave; so his mother is teaching him, +and you would think he is a girl to see how nicely he takes to it. He +is not a bit ashamed of it either, if it is girl's work."</p> + +<p>"And so he oughtn't," said Bessie. "Girl's work is very nice work."</p> + +<p>"So it is, Queen Bess; and girls are very nice things when they are +like our Midget and Bess."</p> + +<p>"I don't think boys are half as nice as girls," said Maggie, "except +you and Tom, Harry."</p> + +<p>"And I," said Fred.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, yes, Fred; when you don't tease I love you; but then you do +tease, you know. But Mamie Stone is not nice if she is a girl; she is +cross, and she did a shocking thing, Harry. She pinched Bessie's arm so +it's all black and blue. But she was served right for it, 'cause I just +gave her a good slap."</p> + +<p>"But that was naughty in you," said Tom, who was standing by; "you +should return good for evil."</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't, if she evils my Bessie," said Maggie, stoutly. "If she +hurts me I won't do anything to her, but if she hurts Bessie I will, +and I don't believe it's any harm. I'm sure there's a verse in the +Bible about it."</p> + +<p>"About what, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"About, about,—why about my loving Bessie and not letting any one hurt +her. I'll ask papa to find one for me. He can find a verse in the Bible +about everything. Oh, now I remember one myself. It's—little children +love each other."</p> + +<p>"And so you should," said Tom; "and it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> very sweet to see two little +sisters always so kind and loving to each other as you and Bessie +are. But, Maggie, that verse does not mean that you should get into a +quarrel with your other playmates for Bessie's sake; it means that you +should love all little children. Of course you need not love Mamie as +much as Bessie, but you ought to love her enough to make you kind to +her. And there's another verse,—'blessed are the peace-makers.' You +were not a peace-maker when you slapped Mamie."</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't be Mamie's peace-maker," said Maggie; "and, Tom, you ought +to take my side and Bessie's; you are very unkind."</p> + +<p>"Now don't be vexed, Midget," said Tom, sitting down on a large stone, +and pulling Maggie on his knee. "I only want to show you that it did +not make things any better for you to slap Mamie when she pinched +Bessie. What happened next after you slapped her?"</p> + +<p>"She slapped me," said Maggie; "and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> I slapped her again, and Lily +slapped her, too; it was just good enough for her."</p> + +<p>"And what then?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Why Mamie screamed and ran and told her mother, and Mrs. Stone came +and scolded us; and Jane showed her Bessie's arm, and she said she +didn't believe Mamie meant to hurt Bessie."</p> + +<p>"What a jolly row!" said Fred. "I wish I had been there to see."</p> + +<p>"Nurse said she wished she had been there," said Maggie, "and she would +have told Mrs. Stone—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind that," said Tom; "there were quite enough in the quarrel +without nurse. Now, Maggie, would it not have been far better if you +had taken Bessie quietly away when Mamie hurt her?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Maggie, "because then she wouldn't have been slapped, and +she ought to be."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think with you that Mamie was a very naughty girl, and +deserved to be punished;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> but then it was not your place to do it."</p> + +<p>"But her mother would not do it," said Maggie; "she is a weak, foolish +woman, and is ruining that child."</p> + +<p>The boys laughed, when Maggie said this with such a grand air.</p> + +<p>"Who did you hear say that?" asked Harry.</p> + +<p>"Papa," said Maggie,—"so it's true. I guess he didn't mean me to hear +it, but I did."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you little pitcher!" cried Harry; and Tom said, "Maggie dear, +things may be quite right for your father to say, that would not be +proper for us; because Mrs. Stone is a great deal older than we are; +but since we all know that she does not take much pains to make Mamie +a good and pleasant child, do you not think that this ought to make us +more patient with her when she is fretful and quarrelsome?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Maggie; "if her mother don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> make her behave, some one else +ought to. I will hurt her if she hurts Bessie."</p> + +<p>"Maggie," said Tom, "when wicked men came to take Jesus Christ and +carry him away to suffer a dreadful death on the cross, do you remember +what one of the disciples did?"</p> + +<p>"No; tell me," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"He drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of those wicked men; not +because he was doing anything to him, but because he was ill-treating +the dear Lord whom he loved."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of it," said Maggie; "it was just good enough for that bad +man, and I love that disciple."</p> + +<p>"But the Saviour was not glad," said Tom, "for he reproved the +disciple, and told him to put up his sword; and he reached out his hand +and healed the man's ear."</p> + +<p>"That was because he was Jesus," said Maggie. "I couldn't be so good as +Jesus."</p> + +<p>"No, we cannot be as holy and good as Jesus, for he was without sin; +but we can try to be like him, and then he will love us and be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> pleased +with what he knows we wish to do. Maggie, the other day I heard you +saying to your mother that pretty hymn, 'I am Jesus' Little Lamb;' now, +if you are really one of Jesus' little lambs you will also be one of +his blessed peace-makers. I think if you and Lily had not struck Mamie, +she would have felt much more sorry and ashamed than she does now, when +she thinks that you have hurt her as much as she hurt Bessie."</p> + +<p>"Do you want me to be a peace-maker with Mamie, now?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you are not friends with her yet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, we are not friends at all," said Maggie; "for she runs away +every time she sees Lily or me; and we make faces at her."</p> + +<p>"And do you like to have it so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie slowly, "I think I do; I like to see her run."</p> + +<p>"And do you think it is like Jesus' little lamb for you to feel so."</p> + +<p>"No, I suppose not; I guess it's pretty naughty, and I won't make faces +at her anymore.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> What shall I do to make friends, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom, "I cannot tell exactly; but suppose the next time +that Mamie runs away from you, you call her to come and play with you; +will not that show her that you wish to be at peace again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie; "and if you think Jesus would want me to, I'll do +it; but, Tom, we'll be very sorry if she comes. You don't know what an +uncomfortable child she is to play with; she's as cross as—as cross +as—<i>nine</i> sticks."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'll find some other way," said Tom, who could not help +smiling. "If we wish for a chance to do good to a person we can +generally find one. But I must go, for there is father beckoning to me +to come out in the boat with him. You will think of what I have said, +will you not, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes I will, and I will do it too, Tom; and if Mamie pinches Bessie +again, I won't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> slap her, but only give her a good push, and then we'll +run away from her."</p> + +<p>Tom did not think that this was exactly the way to make friends, but he +had not time to say anything more, for his father was waiting.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V">V.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>TOM'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-064.jpg" alt="T" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">"T</span>HERE'S Tom," said Maggie, on the next Sunday afternoon, as she looked +out of the window; "he is talking to Mr. Jones, and now they are going +to the barn. I wonder if he is going to swing on Sunday."</p> + +<p>"Why, Maggie," said Bessie; "Tom wouldn't do such a thing."</p> + +<p>"I thought maybe he forgot," said Maggie. "I forgot it was Sunday this +morning, and I was just going to ask Mr. Jones to swing me. I wonder +what they are doing. I can see in the door of the barn and they are +busy with the hay. Come and look, Bessie."</p> + +<p>Tom and Mr. Jones seemed to be very busy in the barn for a few minutes, +but the little girls could not make out what they were doing. At last +Tom came out and walked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> over to the house. Maggie and Bessie ran to +meet him.</p> + +<p>"Here you are," he said, "the very little people I wanted to see. I am +going to have a Sunday-school class in the barn. Mr. Jones has given me +leave, for I could find no place over at the hotel. We have been making +seats in the hay. Will you come?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed we will," said Maggie, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>Bessie shook her head sorrowfully. "Tom," she said, "mamma wont let me +go to Sunday-school; she says I am too little."</p> + +<p>"I think she will let you go to mine," said Tom; "we'll go and ask her."</p> + +<p>They all went in together to the room where papa and mamma sat reading. +"Mrs. Bradford," said Tom, when he had shaken hands with her, "I am +going to hold a little Sunday-school class over in the barn; will you +let Maggie and Bessie come?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Mrs. Bradford. "Who are you to have, Tom?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Only Lily, ma'am, and Mamie Stone, and a few more of the little ones +from the hotel; they were running about and making a great noise in the +hall and parlors, and I thought I could keep them quiet for a while +if Mr. Jones would let me bring them over to his barn, and have a +Sunday-school there. Walter is coming to help me."</p> + +<p>"A good plan, too," said Mr. Bradford; "you are a kind boy to think of +it, Tom."</p> + +<p>"May I come?" asked Harry.</p> + +<p>"And I, too?" said Fred.</p> + +<p>"I don't know about you, Fred," said Tom; "I should like to have Harry, +for neither Walter nor I can sing, and we want some one to set the +tunes for the little ones. But I am afraid you will make mischief."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I won't, Tom. Let me come and I will be as quiet as a mouse, +and give you leave to turn me out if I do the first thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you may come, but I shall hold you to your word and send +you away if you make the least disturbance. I don't mean this for +play."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Honor bright," said Fred.</p> + +<p>They all went out and met Walter who was coming up the path with a +troop of little ones after him. There were Lily and Eddie Norris, +Gracie Howard, Mamie Stone, Julia and Charlie Bolton, and half a dozen +more beside.</p> + +<p>Tom marched them into the barn, where he and Mr. Jones had arranged the +school-room.</p> + +<p>And a fine school-room the children thought it; better than those +in the city to which some of them went every Sunday. There were two +long piles of hay with boards laid on top of them,—one covered with +a buffalo robe, the other with a couple of sheep skins, making nice +seats. In front of these was Tom's place,—an empty barrel turned +upside-down for his desk, and Fred's velocipede for his seat. The +children did not in the least care that hay was strewn all over the +floor, or that the old horse who was in the other part of the barn, +would now and then put his nose through the little opening above his +manger, and look in at them as if he wondered what they were about.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't this splendid?" said Maggie. "It is better than our Infant +school-room, in Dr. Hill's church."</p> + +<p>"So it is," said Lily. "I wish we always went to Sunday-school here, +and had Tom for our teacher."</p> + +<p>Some of the little ones wanted to play, and began to throw hay at each +other; but Tom put a stop to this; he had not brought them there to +romp, he said, and those who wanted to be noisy must go away. Then he +told them all to take their seats.</p> + +<p>Maggie had already taken hers on the end of one of the hay benches, +with Bessie next to her, and Lily on the other side of Bessie. Gracie +Howard sat down by Lily, and Mamie Stone was going to take her place +next, when Gracie said, "You sha'n't sit by me, Mamie."</p> + +<p>"Nor by me," said Lily.</p> + +<p>"Nor me, nor me," said two or three of the others.</p> + +<p>Now Mamie saw how she had made the other children dislike her by her +ill-humor and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> unkindness, and she did not find it at all pleasant to +stand there and have them all saying they would not sit by her.</p> + +<p>"I want to go home," she said, while her face grew very red, and she +looked as if she were going to cry.</p> + +<p>"Who is going to be kind, and sit by Mamie," asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"I should think none of them who know how she can pinch," said Fred.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we are going to forget all that," said Tom. "Come, children, make +room for Mamie."</p> + +<p>"This bench is full," said Lily, "she can't come here."</p> + +<p>Mamie began to cry. "There is plenty of room on the other bench," said +Tom; "sit there, Mamie."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to," answered Mamie; "there's nothing but boys there, and +I want to go home."</p> + +<p>"Why," said Tom, "what a bad thing that would be, to begin our +Sunday-school by having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> one of our little scholars go home because +none of the rest will sit by her. That will never do."</p> + +<p>All this time Maggie had sat quite still, looking at Mamie. She was +thinking of what Tom had said to her, and of being Jesus' little lamb. +Here was a chance to show Mamie that she was ready to be friends with +her, but it was hard work. She did not at all like to go away from her +little sister whom she loved so much, to sit by Mamie whom she did not +love at all, and who had been so unkind to Bessie. She rose up slowly +from her seat, with cheeks as red as Mamie's and said,—</p> + +<p>"Tom, I'll go on the other seat and sit by Mamie."</p> + +<p>"And just get pinched for it," said Lily: "stay with us, Maggie."</p> + +<p>Mamie took her hand down from her face and looked at Maggie with great +surprise.</p> + +<p>"She wants some one to sit with her," said Maggie, "and I had better +go."</p> + +<p>"Maggie is doing as she would be done by," said Tom.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Maggie felt glad, for she knew she was doing right. "Come, Mamie," +she said, and she took hold of Mamie's hand, and they sat down together +on the other bench.</p> + +<p>"You are a good girl, Midget," said Harry, "and it's more than you +deserve, Miss Mamie."</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Mamie. "I love Maggie, and I don't love any of the +rest of you, except only Tom."</p> + +<p>Here Tom called his school to order and said there must be no more +talking, for he was going to read, and all must be quiet. He went +behind his barrel-desk, and opening his Bible, read to them about the +Saviour blessing little children. Then they sang, "I want to be an +Angel." Harry and Fred, with their beautiful clear voices, started the +tune, and all the children joined in, for every one of them knew the +pretty hymn.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 416px;"> +<img src="images/i-072.jpg" width="416" height="600" alt="Tom's Sunday School in barn." /> +<div class="caption">Bessie at Sea Side. p. 68</div> +</div> + +<p>Next, Tom read how Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in a rough +stable and laid not in a pretty cradle such as their baby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> brothers +and sisters slept in, but in a manger where the wise men of the east +came and worshipped Him: and how after Joseph and Mary had been told by +God to fly into the land of Egypt with the infant Saviour, the wicked +king, Herod, killed all the dear little babies in the land, with the +hope that Jesus might be among them. When he came to any thing which he +thought the children would not understand, he stopped and explained it +to them. "Now we will sing again," he said, when he had done reading, +"and the girls shall choose the hymns. Maggie, dear, what shall we sing +first?"</p> + +<p>Maggie knew what she would like, but she was too shy to tell, and she +looked at Tom without speaking. Tom thought he knew, and said, "I'll +choose for you, then. We will sing, 'Jesus, little lamb;' whoever knows +it, hold up their hand."</p> + +<p>Half a dozen little hands went up, but Tom saw that all the children +did not know it. "What shall we do?" he said. "Maggie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> would like that +best, I think; but I suppose all want to sing, and some do not know the +words."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Gracie Howard, who was one of those who had not held +up her hand, "if Maggie wants it we'll sing it, because she was so good +and went and sat by Mamie. If we don't know the words we can holler out +the tune all the louder."</p> + +<p>Some of the children began to laugh when Gracie said this, but Tom +said, "I have a better plan than that. I will say the first verse over +three or four times, line by line, and you may repeat it after me; then +we will sing it, and so go on with the next verse."</p> + +<p>This was done. Tom said the lines slowly and distinctly, and those who +did not know the hymn repeated them. While they were learning the first +verse in this way, Mamie whispered to Maggie, "Maggie, I love you."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" said Maggie, as if she could not quite believe it.</p> + +<p>"Yes, because you are good; don't you love me. Maggie?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, no, not much," said Maggie, "but I'll try to."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would," said Mamie; "and I wont snatch your things, nor +slap you, nor do anything."</p> + +<p>"I'll love you if you do a favor to me," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will, if it is not to give you my new crying baby."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't want your crying baby, nor any of your toys," said Maggie. +"I only want you to promise that you won't pinch my Bessie again. Why, +Mamie, you ought to be more ashamed of yourself than any girl that ever +lived; her arm is all black and blue yet."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to hurt her so much," said Mamie, "and I was sorry when +Bessie cried so; but then you slapped me, and Lily slapped me, and +Jane scolded me, and so I didn't care, but was glad I did it; but I am +sorry, now, and I'll never do it again."</p> + +<p>"And I sha'n't slap you, if you do," said Maggie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What will you do, then?"</p> + +<p>"I'll just take Bessie away, and leave you to your own 'flections."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what that means," said Mamie.</p> + +<p>"I don't, either," said Maggie; "but I heard papa say it, so I said it. +I like to say words that big people say. Bessie won't say a word if +she don't know what it means; but I'd just as lief. I guess it means +conscience."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess it does, too," said Mamie, "for Walter said he should +think I'd have a troubled conscience for hurting Bessie so; but I +didn't. And Tom talked to me too; but I didn't care a bit, till you +came to sit by me, Maggie, and now I am sorry. Did you tell Tom about +it?"</p> + +<p>"I talked to him about it, but he knew before. Why, everybody knew, +Mamie, because your mamma made such an awful fuss about those little +slaps."</p> + +<p>Now Maggie made a mistake in saying this; she did not mean it to vex +Mamie, but it did.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They were not little slaps," she said, "they were hard slaps, and they +hurt; and you sha'n't say my mamma makes an awful fuss."</p> + +<p>Before Maggie had time to answer, Tom called upon the children to sing, +and Maggie joined in with her whole heart. The first verse was sung +over twice; and by the time this was done, Mamie felt good-natured +again, for she remembered how Maggie had come to sit with her when none +of the other little girls would do so. She had been quite surprised +when Maggie had offered to do it, and had thought that she could not +have been so good.</p> + +<p>"I'll never be cross with Maggie again," she said to herself.</p> + +<p>When Tom began to teach the second verse she whispered, "Maggie, will +you kiss me and make up?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, by and by, when some of the other children are gone," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Why won't you do it, now?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't like to do it before them; I'm afraid they'll think I want +them to see."</p> + +<p>When Tom thought the children all knew the hymn pretty well, they sang +it over two or three times, and then he told them a story. After they +had sung once more, he dismissed the school; for he did not want to +keep them too long, lest the little ones should be tired. He invited +all those who liked it, to come again the next Sunday afternoon, for +Mr. Jones had said that they might have Sunday-school in the barn as +often as they liked. Every one of the children said that they would +come. When most of them had left the barn, Maggie said, "Now I will +kiss you, Mamie."</p> + +<p>"I want to kiss Bessie, too," said Mamie, as the little girl came +running up to her sister; "will you kiss me, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Bessie; and Mamie kissed both of her little playmates, +and so there was peace between them once more.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI">VI.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE POST-OFFICE</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-079.jpg" alt="O" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">O</span>N Monday Mr. Bradford went up to New York to attend to some business. +He was to come back on Wednesday afternoon; and on the morning of that +day, grandmamma sent over to know if Mrs. Bradford would like to have +her carriage, and drive to the railway station to meet him. Mamma said +yes; and told Maggie and Bessie they might go with her. She offered +to take Harry and Fred, too; but they wanted to go clam-fishing with +Mr. Jones; so she took Franky and baby instead, and carried baby +herself, telling nurse and Jane that they might have a holiday for the +afternoon. The little girls were delighted at the thought of going to +meet their dear father; for he had been gone three days, and they had +missed him very much.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first part of the ride was through the sand, where the wheels went +in so deep that the horses had hard work to draw the carriage and went +very slowly, but the children did not mind that at all. They liked to +hear the sound of the wheels grating through the sand, and to watch how +they took it up and threw it off again as they moved round and round. +At last the carriage turned off to the right, and now the road was +firmer and harder, and, after a time, ran through the woods. This was +delightful, it was so cool and shady. Baby seemed to think this was a +good place for a nap, for she began to shut her eyes and nod her little +head about, till mamma laid her down in her lap, where she went fast +asleep. James took Franky in front with him and let him hold the end +of the reins, and Franky thought he was driving quite as much as the +good-natured coachman, and kept calling out "Get up," and "Whoa," which +the horses did not care for in the least.</p> + +<p>There was a little stream which ran along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> by the side of the road, +and at last bent itself right across it, so that the carriage had to +go over a small bridge. Just beyond the bridge the stream widened into +quite a large pool. James drove his horses into it, and stopped to let +them take a drink.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely, shady spot. The trees grew close around the pool and +met overhead, and there were a number of small purple flowers growing +all around. James tried to reach some of them with his whip, but +they were too far away, so the children were disappointed. When the +horses had stopped drinking, there was not a sound to be heard but the +twittering of the birds in the branches, and the little ripple of the +water as it flowed over the stones.</p> + +<p>"Let's stay here a great while, mamma," said Bessie, "it is so +pleasant."</p> + +<p>"And what would papa do when he came and found no one waiting for him?" +said Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! let us make haste then," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> Bessie; "we mustn't make him +disappointed for a million waters."</p> + +<p>But mamma said there was time enough; so they staid a few moments +longer, and then drove on. At last they passed from the beautiful green +wood into a space where there was no shade. There were bushes and very +small trees to be sure, but they were low and scrubby and grew close +together in a kind of tangled thicket. These reached as far as they +could see on either side, and came so near to the edge of the road, +that once, when James had to make way for a heavy hay wagon, and drew +in his horses to let it pass, Maggie stretched her hand out of the +carriage and pulled some sprigs from one of the bushes.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, do you know that funny old man?" asked Bessie, as the driver of +the hay wagon nodded to her mother, and Mrs. Bradford smiled and nodded +pleasantly in return.</p> + +<p>"No, dear; but in these lonely country places it is the custom for +people to nod when they pass each other."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, we don't do that in New York," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"No, it would be too troublesome to speak to every one whom we met +in the streets of a great city; and people there would think it very +strange and impertinent if you bowed to them when you did not know +them."</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Maggie, "I don't like the kind of country there is here, +at all. What makes all these bushes grow here?"</p> + +<p>Then mamma told how all this ground was once covered with just such +beautiful woods as they had passed through, and how they were set on +fire by the sparks from a train of cars, how the fire spread for miles +and miles, and burned for many days; and the people could do nothing to +stop it, until God sent a change of wind and a heavy rain which put it +out. She told them how many poor people were burnt out of their houses, +and how the little birds and squirrels and other animals were driven +from their cosy homes in the woods, and many of them scorched to death +by this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> terrible fire. Then for a long time the ground where these +woods had grown was only covered with ashes and charred logs, till at +last these tangled bushes had sprung up. Mamma said she supposed that +by and by the people would cut down the underbrush, and then the young +trees would have space to grow.</p> + +<p>By the time she had finished her long story they reached the Station +and found that they had a few moments to wait, for it was not yet quite +time for the train.</p> + +<p>There was a locomotive standing on the track, and when the horses saw +it they began to prick up their ears and to dance a little; so James +turned their heads and drove them up by the side of the depot, where +they could not see it. On the other side of the road was a small, white +building, and over the door was a sign with large black letters upon it.</p> + +<p>"P-O-S-T, porst," spelled Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Post," said mamma.</p> + +<p>"Post, O double F."</p> + +<p>"O-F, of," said mamma again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O-F, of, F-I-C-E; oh, it's the post-office. I wonder if there is a +letter there for us from Grandpapa Duncan."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps there may be," said Mrs. Bradford. "I told Mr. Jones we would +inquire for the letters. James, will it do for you to leave the horses?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, ma'am," said James. "They are a little onasy yet, and if +she squales they'll run."</p> + +<p>"And I cannot go because of baby," said mamma; "we must wait till papa +comes."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could get our letter if it is there," said Maggie; "we could +read it while we are waiting for papa."</p> + +<p>"There's a nice civil man there, Mrs. Bradford," said James, "and if +you didn't mind Miss Maggie going over, I could lift her out, and he'll +wait on her as if it was yourself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, James," said Maggie; "I couldn't do it, not for anything. I +couldn't indeed, mamma."</p> + +<p>"Well, dear, you need not, if you are afraid."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I would like to have our letter so much, mamma."</p> + +<p>"So would I," said Bessie. "And when dear papa comes we will want to +talk to him and not to yead our letter."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it is not there," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"But we would like to know," said Bessie. "Could I go, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"You are almost too little I think, dear."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Maggie, slowly, "I guess I'll go. Mamma, will you look at +me all the time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, and there is nothing to hurt you. Just walk in at that +door, and you will see a man there. Ask him if there are any letters to +go to Mr. Jones's house."</p> + +<p>"Yes, mamma, and be very sure you watch all the time."</p> + +<p>James came down from his seat and lifted Maggie from the carriage. She +walked very slowly across the road, every step or two looking back to +see if her mother was watching her. Mrs. Bradford smiled and nodded to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +her, and at last Maggie went in at the door. But the moment she was +inside, her mother saw her turn round and fly out of the post-office as +if she thought something terrible was after her. She tore back across +the road and came up to the carriage looking very much frightened.</p> + +<p>"Why, Maggie, what is it, dear?" asked her mother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, there is a hole there, and a man put his face in it; please +put me in the carriage, James."</p> + +<p>"Oh, foolish little Maggie," said mamma; "that man was the post-master, +and he came to the hole as you call it, to see what you wanted. If you +had waited and told him, he would have looked to see if there were any +letters for us."</p> + +<p>"He had such queer spectacles on," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could go," said Bessie; "I wouldn't be afraid of him. I do +want to know if Grandpapa Duncan's letter is there."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then you may try," said her mother; "take her out, James."</p> + +<p>So Bessie was lifted out of the carriage, and went across the road +as Maggie had done. She walked into the post-office and saw the hole +Maggie had spoken of, but no one was looking out of it. It was a square +opening cut in a wooden partition which divided the post-office. On one +side was the place where Bessie stood, and where people came to ask for +their letters; on the other was the postmaster's room, where he kept +the letters and papers till they were called for.</p> + +<p>Bessie looked around and saw no one. She always moved very gently, and +she had come in so quietly that the post-master had not heard her. +There was a chair standing in front of "the hole." Bessie pushed it +closer, and climbing upon it, put her little face through, and looked +into the post-master's side of the room. He was sitting there reading. +He was an ugly old man, and wore green goggles, which Maggie had called +"such queer spectacles." But Bessie was not afraid of him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mr. Post Officer?" she said. "I came for our letter."</p> + +<p>The post-master looked up. "Well, you're a big one to send after a +letter," he said. "Who is it for?"</p> + +<p>"For Maggie and me, and it is from Grandpapa Duncan; has it come?"</p> + +<p>"Where are you from?" asked the post-master, laughing.</p> + +<p>"From Mr. Jones's house. Oh, I forgot, mamma said I was to ask if any +letters had come for Mr. Jones's house."</p> + +<p>"Then I suppose you are Mr. Bradford's daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"And are you the little girl who came in here just now, and ran right +out again?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir; that was Maggie. Poor Maggie is shy, and she said you +looked out of a hole at her."</p> + +<p>"And you looked in a hole at me, but I did not run away. If I was to +run away you could not get your letter."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is it here, sir?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon it may be," said the post-master; "what's your name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Bessie, and my sister's is Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Here is one apiece then," said the post-master, taking up some +letters. "Here is one for Miss Bessie Bradford; that's you, is it? and +one for Miss Maggie Bradford, that's your sister, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"What! one for myself, and one for Maggie's self," said Bessie. "Are +they from Grandpapa Duncan?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said the post-master. "You will have to open them to +find that out."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how nice; please let me have them, sir; I am very much obliged to +you."</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop," cried the post-master, as Bessie jumped down from the +chair, and was running off with her prizes. "Here are some more papers +and letters for your folks."</p> + +<p>But Bessie did not hear him; she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> already out of the door, running +over to the carriage with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, holding +up a letter in each hand. "Oh, Maggie, Maggie," she called, "that nice +post-officer gave me two letters, one for you, and one for me; wasn't +he kind?"</p> + +<p>"I think it was a kind Grandpapa Duncan, who took the trouble to write +two letters," said Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"So it was," said Maggie. "Mamma, will you read them for us?"</p> + +<p>"In a moment," said Mrs. Bradford; and then she turned to speak to the +post-master, who had followed Bessie to the carriage with the papers +and letters which she had been in too great a hurry to wait for. She +thanked him, and he went back and stood at the door watching the eager +little girls while their mother read to them. She opened Maggie's +letter first. It said,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Little Maggie</span>:—</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you how pleased I was to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> receive the very nice +letter which you and Bessie sent me. I have put it in a safe place +in my writing desk, and shall keep it as long as I live. As you +wrote it together, perhaps you expected that I would make one +answer do for both; but I thought you would be better pleased if I +sent a letter for each one.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear that you like Quam Beach so much; but you must +not let it make you forget dear old Riverside. I am fond of the +sea myself, and do not know but I may take a run down to see you +some day this summer. Do you think you could give a welcome to the +old man? and would Mrs. Jones make him such a famous turnover as +she made for you?</p> + +<p>"I went this morning to see your friend Jemmy, for I thought you +would like to hear something about him. He was out in the little +garden, on the shady side of the house, sitting in his chair with +his books beside him, and a happier or more contented boy I never +saw. He was alone, except for his dog and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> rabbits, for his mother +was washing, and Mary was out. Mrs. Bent brought me a chair, and +I sat and talked to Jemmy for some time. I asked him which of all +his books he liked best. 'Oh, my Bible, sir,' he said. 'I think it +is with the Bible and other books, just like it is with people, +Mr. Duncan.' 'How so?' I asked. 'Why, sir,' he answered, 'when +Mary and mother are away, the neighbors often come in to sit with +me and talk a bit. They are very kind, and I like to have them +tell me about things; but no matter how much they make me laugh +or amuse me, 'tain't like mother's voice; and if I am sick, or +tired, or uncomfortable, or even glad, there ain't nobody that +seems to have just the right thing to say, so well as her. And +it's just so with the Bible, I think; it always has just the very +thing I want: whether it's comfort and help, or words to say how +happy and thankful I feel. The other books I like just as I do the +neighbors; but the Bible I love just as I do mother. I suppose the +reason is that the Bible is God's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> own words, and he loved and +pitied us so that he knew what we would want him to say, just as +mother loves and pities me, and so knows what I like her to say.' +Happy Jemmy! he knows how to love and value God's holy book, that +most precious gift, in which all may find what their souls need. +May my little Maggie learn its worth as the poor lame boy has done.</p> + +<p>"I really think your chair has done Jemmy good. He looks brighter, +and has a better color and appetite since he has been able to be +out of doors so much. I do not suppose he will ever be able to +walk again, but he does not fret about that, and is thankful for +the blessings that are left to him. If you and Bessie could see +how much he enjoys the chair, you would feel quite repaid for any +pains you took to earn it for him. And now, my darling, I think I +must put the rest of what I have to say, in your little sister's +letter. Write to me soon again, and believe me</p> + +<p class="signat">"Your loving grandpapa,</p> + +<p class="author">"<span class="smcap">Charles Duncan.</span>"</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just as mama was finishing this letter, the train came in sight, and +she said she must leave Bessie's letter till they were at home. In +a few minutes they saw their dear father coming towards them, and a +man following with his bag and a great basket. Then papa was in the +carriage, and such a hugging and kissing as he took and gave. Franky +came inside that he might have his share, too; and baby woke up, +good-natured as she always was, and smiled and crowed at her father +till he said he really thought she knew him, and was glad to see him. +Mamma was quite sure she did.</p> + +<p>When they had all settled down once more, and papa had asked and +answered a good many questions, he said, "Maggie and Bessie, I met a +very curious old gentleman to-day; what strange question do you think +he asked me?"</p> + +<p>The children were sure they did not know.</p> + +<p>"He asked me if there were any little girls down this way who wrote +letters to old gentleman?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie looked at each other, and Maggie shook her head very +knowingly; but they waited to hear what papa would say next.</p> + +<p>"I told him I thought I knew of two such young damsels, and what do you +think he did then?"</p> + +<p>"What?" asked both the little girls at once.</p> + +<p>"He handed me these two parcels and told me if I could find any such +little letter-writers, to ask them if they would prove useful."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Bradford spoke, he produced two parcels. Like the letters, they +were directed one to Miss Maggie Bradford, and the other to Miss Bessie +Bradford. They were quickly opened, and inside were two purple leather +writing cases, very small, but as Bessie said, "perfaly pretty." They +had steel corners and locks, and a plate with each little girl's name +engraved upon her own. In each were found a small inkstand, a pen, and +two pencils, two sticks of sealing wax, and best of all, tiny note<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +paper and envelopes stamped M. S. B., and B. R. B.</p> + +<p>It would have done Grandpapa Duncan good to have seen his pets' +pleasure. Maggie fairly screamed with delight. "Oh, such paper, such +lovely stamped paper."</p> + +<p>"And such <i>embelopes</i>," said Bessie, "with our own name letters on +them."</p> + +<p>"I am going to write to every one I know in the world," cried Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Bessie, when they had looked again and again at their +beautiful presents, "I do think God has made all my people the very +best people that ever lived. I don't think any little girls have such +people as mine."</p> + +<p>"I suppose every other little girl thinks the same thing, Bessie."</p> + +<p>"Mamma, how can they? they don't have you, nor papa, nor Maggie, nor +Grandpapa Duncan, nor grandmamma;" and Bessie went on naming all the +people whom she loved, and who loved her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>Papa asked if they had not each had a letter from Grandpapa Duncan. The +writing cases had almost made them forget the letters; but now they +showed them to papa, and he told Bessie he would read hers. He let her +open it herself, and taking her on his knee, read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Little Bessie</span>,—</p> + +<p>"Maggie will tell you how much I was pleased with the letter you +both sent me, but I must thank you for your share in it. Your old +grandpapa is very happy to know that his little pets think about +him, and care for him when they are away. I am glad to hear that +you are better, and hope you will come home with cheeks as red as +Maggie's.</p> + +<p>"We are all well here except poor little Nellie, who is cutting +some teeth which hurt her very much, and make her rather fretful. +She has learned to say two or three words, and among them she +makes a curious sound which her mamma declares to be a very plain +grandpapa; as she looks at me every time she says<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> it, I suppose I +must believe it is so; but I must say it does not sound much like +it to my ears. However, she loves her old grandpapa dearly, which +is a great pleasure to me.</p> + +<p>"Your little dog Flossy is growing finely. He is very pretty and +lively, and will make a fine playmate for you and Maggie when +you come home. I went down to Donald's cottage the other day and +found all four of the puppies playing before the door while Alice +sat on the steps watching them. She says they are growing very +mischievous and have already broken two or three of Donald's fine +plants, so that when she lets them out for a play, she has to keep +her eye on them all the time. Alice asked about you and Maggie, +and I could not help wishing with her that you were there to see +your little doggie. It will be pleasant to have you at Riverside +again in the autumn. Send me another letter, if you wish to please</p> + +<p class="signat">"Your loving grandpapa,</p> + +<p class="author">"<span class="smcap">Charles Duncan.</span>"</p> +</div> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII">VII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>A NEW FRIEND.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-100.jpg" alt="O" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">O</span>NE morning Bessie was sitting on a large rock on the beach, looking at +the waves as they rolled up, one after another, and listening to the +pleasant sound they made. The other children and Jane were playing a +little way off.</p> + +<p>Presently a lady and gentleman came walking slowly along the beach. The +gentleman used crutches, for he had only one foot. They stopped at the +rock where Bessie sat, and the lady said, "You had better sit down, +Horace, you have walked far enough."</p> + +<p>The gentleman sat down beside Bessie, who looked at him for a minute +and then got up.</p> + +<p>"I'll sit on that other stone," she said, "and then there'll be room +for the lady: that is big enough for me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, dear," said the lady; and the gentleman said, "Well, you +are a polite little girl."</p> + +<p>Bessie liked his looks, but it made her sorry to see that he had only +one foot. She sat opposite to him looking at him very gravely; and he +looked back at her, but with a smile. Now that Bessie had given up her +seat to the strangers, she felt they were her company and she must +entertain them, so she began to talk.</p> + +<p>"Is your foot pretty well, sir?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Which foot?" asked the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"The one that is cut off."</p> + +<p>"How can it be pretty well if it is cut off?" he said; "you see it is +not here to feel pretty well."</p> + +<p>"I mean the place where it was cut off," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"It pains me a good deal," he said. "I am a soldier, and my foot was +hurt in battle and had to be cut off, but I hope it will feel better +one of these days. I have come down here to see what the sea air will +do for me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, then you'll feel better, soon," said Bessie. "I used to feel very +<i>misable</i>, but now I am most well."</p> + +<p>"Why, is your foot cut off, too?" asked the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; don't you see I have both my two?"</p> + +<p>"So you have," said the gentleman, laughing as she held up two little +feet; "but there is not half as much in those two tiny feet, as there +is in my one big one."</p> + +<p>"I had yather have two little ones than one big one," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"So would I, but you see I cannot choose, and all the sea air in the +world will not bring me back my other foot."</p> + +<p>"Don't you like the sea, sir?" asked Bessie, "I do."</p> + +<p>"Why do you like it so much?"</p> + +<p>"Because I like to see the waves, and I think it sounds as if it was +saying something all the time."</p> + +<p>"What does it seem to say?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir. I listen to it a great deal, and I can't find +out, but I like to hear it for all. I think it must be telling us to +yemember our Father in heaven who made it."</p> + +<p>"What a strange child," the gentleman whispered to the lady; "who is +she like?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, but she is lovely;" said the lady; "I should like to +take her picture as she sits there."</p> + +<p>"What is your name, fairy?" asked the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Bessie what?"</p> + +<p>"Bessie Bradford."</p> + +<p>"Bessie Bradford! and what is your father's name?"</p> + +<p>"His name is Bradford, too."</p> + +<p>"But what is his first name?"</p> + +<p>"Mr." said Bessie, gravely.</p> + +<p>The gentleman laughed. "Has he no other names?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes;" said Bessie, "all his names are Mr. Henry, Lane, Bradford."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought so," said the gentleman, "she is the very image of Helen +Duncan. And where is your father, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Up in the house, yeading to mamma," said Bessie, looking away from him +to the lady. She was very pretty and had a sweet smile. Bessie liked +her face very much and sat gazing at her as earnestly as she had before +done at the gentleman who presently said, "Well, what do you think of +this lady?"</p> + +<p>"I think she is very pretty," said Bessie, turning her eyes back to him.</p> + +<p>"So do I," said the gentleman, "do you think that I am very pretty, +too?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Then what do you think about me?"</p> + +<p>"I think you are pretty 'quisitive," said the little girl, at which +both the lady and gentleman laughed heartily; but Bessie looked very +sober.</p> + +<p>"Will you give me a kiss, little one?" asked the stranger.</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie, "I had yather not."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, you are not afraid of me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Bessie, "I am not afraid of soldiers; I like them."</p> + +<p>"Then why won't you kiss me?"</p> + +<p>"I don't kiss strangers, if they're gentlemen," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"And that is very prudent, too," said the soldier, who seemed very much +amused; "but then you see I am not quite a stranger."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a—I mean I think you are mistaken, sir," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Don't tease her, dear," said the lady.</p> + +<p>"But, little Bessie," said the gentleman, "do you call people strangers +who know a great deal about you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie; "but you don't know anything about me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do; in the first place I know that you are a very kind and +polite little girl who is ready to give up her place to a lame soldier. +Next, I know that your father's name is Mr. Henry, Lane, Bradford, and +that yours is Bessie Rush Bradford, and that you look very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> much like +your aunt, Helen Duncan. Then I know that you have a little sister, +whose name is—let me see, well, I think her name is Margaret, after +your mother; and you have two brothers, Harry and Fred. There is +another little one, but I have forgotten his name."</p> + +<p>"Franky," said Bessie; "and we have baby, too."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well, I have never made baby's acquaintance. And this is not your +home, but you live in New York, at No. 15 —— street, where I have +spent many a pleasant hour. And more than all this, I know there is a +lady in Baltimore named Elizabeth Rush, who loves you very much, and +whom you love; and that a few days since you wrote a letter to her and +told her how sorry you were that her brother who was 'shooted' had had +his foot cut off."</p> + +<p>While the gentleman was saying all this, Bessie had slipped off her +stone and come up to him, and now she was standing, with one little +hand on his knee, looking up eagerly into his face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, do you know the lady whom I call my Aunt Bessie?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do; and now if you are so sorry for Aunt Bessie's brother, +would you not like to do something to help him?"</p> + +<p>"I can't," said Bessie; "I am too little."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can," said the colonel, "you can give me a kiss, and that +would help me a great deal."</p> + +<p>"Why," said Bessie, again, "do you mean that you are Colonel Yush, dear +Aunt Bessie's brother?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure I am," said the colonel; "and now are you going to give me +the kiss for her sake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and for your own sake, too."</p> + +<p>"Capital, we are coming on famously, and shall soon be good friends at +this rate," said the colonel as he stooped and kissed the rosy little +mouth which Bessie held up to him.</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me about it?" she said.</p> + +<p>"About what?"</p> + +<p>"About how you was in that country, called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> India, which papa says is +far away over the sea, and how the wicked heathen named, named—I can't +yemember."</p> + +<p>"Sepoys?" said the colonel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sepoys: how the Sepoys, who you thought were your friends, made a +great fight, and killed the soldiers and put the ladies and dear little +babies down a well. And how brave you was and how you was fighting and +fighting not to let the Sepoys hurt some poor sick soldiers in the +hospital; and the well soldiers wanted to yun away, but you wouldn't +let them, but made the Sepoys yun away instead, and went after them. +And then they came back with ever so many more to help them, and you +and your soldiers had to go away, but you took all the sick men with +you and did not let them be hurt. And you saw a soldier friend of yours +who was dying, and he asked you not to let the Sepoys find him, and +you put him on your horse and carried him away, and the Sepoys almost +caught you. And how the very next day there was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> dreadful, dreadful +battle when more soldiers came, and your foot was shooted and your +side; and your foot had to be cut off in the hospital, and would not +get well for a long, long while. And how there was a lady that you +wanted for your wife, and you came to our country to get her—oh, I +guess that's the lady!" Bessie stopped as she looked at the pretty +lady, and the colonel smiled as he said,—</p> + +<p>"You are right, Bessie; and what more?"</p> + +<p>"And when you were coming in the ship, there was a little boy who fell +in the water and you forgot your lame foot and jumped in after him, and +your foot was hurt so much it had to be cut off some more. So please +tell me all about it, sir."</p> + +<p>Bessie said all this just as fast as her little tongue would go, and +the colonel sat watching her with a very amused look on his face. "Upon +my word, you are well posted, little one. I do not know that I could +tell the story better myself; how did you learn so much?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Aunt Bessie put it in the letters she yote to mamma, and mamma +told us about it, and Harry yeads and yeads it; and Maggie made a nice +play about it. Harry gets on the yocking horse and plays he is Colonel +Yush, and Fred is the soldier that you helped."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said the colonel, "and what are you and Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! we are Harry's soldiers, I mean <i>your</i> soldiers, and Franky is, +too; and we have the nursery chairs for horses, and our dolls for sick +soldiers, and we have the pillows for Sepoys, and we poke them; and +nurse don't like it, 'cause she says we make a yumpus and a muss in the +nursery."</p> + +<p>"I should think so," said the colonel, laughing heartily.</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me the story?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I think I had better tell you another, since you know that so well," +said Colonel Rush; "I will tell you one about a drummer boy."</p> + +<p>But just as he began the story Bessie saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> her father coming towards +them, and in another minute he and the colonel were shaking hands and +seeming so glad to see one another. Then Mr. Bradford turned and looked +at the pretty lady, and the colonel said, "Yes, this is the lady of +whom you have heard as Miss Monroe, now Mrs. Rush. She has taken charge +of what is left of me."</p> + +<p>"Isn't she <i>perfaly</i> lovely, papa?" asked Bessie, as Mr. Bradford took +off his hat and shook hands with the lady, and she saw a pretty pink +color come into her cheeks which made her look sweeter than ever. Papa +looked as if he quite agreed with his little daughter, but he only +smiled and said, "My Bessie speaks her mind on all occasions."</p> + +<p>"So I see," said the colonel, looking very much pleased.</p> + +<p>"Did I talk too much, sir?" asked Bessie, not knowing exactly whether +he meant to find fault with her, for she was sometimes told at home +that she talked too much.</p> + +<p>"Not one word," he answered; "and I hope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> you will often come and see +me at my rooms in the hotel, and talk to me there. I am very fond of +little children."</p> + +<p>"If mamma will let me," said Bessie; "but I can't come <i>very</i> often, +'cause I don't want to be away from Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maggie must come, too," said the colonel.</p> + +<p>"Maggie is shy," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, you bring her to my room, and we will see if I have not +something there that will cure her shyness."</p> + +<p>But papa called Maggie to come and see Colonel and Mrs. Rush, and when +she heard that this was the brave English soldier about whom she had +made the famous play, her shyness was forgotten at once, and she was +quite as ready to be friends as Bessie, though she had not much to say.</p> + +<p>"You know, Bessie," she said afterwards, "we're so very acquainted with +him in our hearts, he is not quite a stranger."</p> + +<p>The next morning, Mrs. Bradford went to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> the hotel to call on Mrs. +Rush, taking Maggie and Bessie with her; and from this time the little +girls and the colonel were the best friends possible, though Bessie +was his particular pet and plaything, and she always called him her +soldier. When he felt well enough, and the day was not too warm, he +would come out and sit on the beach for an hour or two. The moment he +came moving slowly along on his crutches, Bessie was sure to see him, +and no matter what she was doing, off she would run to meet him. As +long as he stayed she never left him, and her mother sometimes feared +that the colonel might grow tired of having such a little child so much +with him, but he told her it was a great pleasure to him; and indeed +it seemed to be so, for though there were a great many people at Quam +Beach who knew him and liked to talk to him, he never forgot the little +friend who sat so quietly at his side, and had every now and then a +word, or smile, or a touch of his hand for her.</p> + +<p>Bessie had been taught that she must not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> interrupt when grown people +were speaking; so, though she was a little chatterbox when she had +leave to talk, she knew when it was polite and proper for her to be +quiet.</p> + +<p>If the colonel could not come down to the shore, he was almost sure to +send for Maggie and Bessie to come to his room, until it came to be +quite a settled thing that they were to pass some time there every day +when he did not go out, and many a pleasant hour did they spend there. +He told them the most delightful and interesting stories of people and +things that he had seen while he was in India, being always careful not +to tell anything that might shock or grieve them, from the day that he +was speaking of the sad death of a little drummer boy, when, to his +great surprise and distress, both children broke into a violent fit +of crying, and it was some time before they could be pacified. Then +such toys as he carved out of wood! He made a little boat with masts +and sails for each of them, which they used to sail in the pools that +were left by the tide;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> and a beautiful set of jack-straws, containing +arrows, spears, swords, trumpets, and guns.</p> + +<p>One day he asked Harry to bring him some sprigs from the spruce tree, +and the next time Maggie and Bessie came to see him, there was a tiny +set of furniture,—a sofa and half a dozen chairs to match, all made +of those very sprigs. He used to lie and carve, while Mrs. Rush was +reading to him; and sometimes he worked while the children were there, +and it was such a pleasure to watch him. Then he had some books with +fine pictures, and oh! wonder of wonders, and what the children liked +best of all, such a grand musical-box, they had never seen one like +it. Mamma had a small one which played three tunes, but it was a baby +musical-box to this, which was so very much larger, and played twenty. +They never tired of it, at least Bessie did not; and she would sit +looking into it and listening so earnestly that often she seemed to see +and hear nothing else around her. Maggie was fond of it, too, but she +could not keep quiet so long as Bessie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> and often wanted to be off and +playing out of doors long before her sister was ready to go.</p> + +<p>There were many days when the colonel was suffering too much pain to +talk or play with them, and they had to be very still if they went into +his room. Then Maggie never cared to stay very long, nor indeed did +the colonel care much to have her; for though she tried her best to be +gentle and quiet, those restless little hands and feet seemed as if +they must be moving; and she was almost sure to shake his sofa, or to +go running and jumping across the room, in a way that distressed him +very much, though her merry ways amused him when he was able to bear +them. Quiet little mouse of a Bessie went stealing about so softly that +she never disturbed the sick man; and so it came about that she spent +many an hour in his room without Maggie. Maggie never half enjoyed her +play, if her sister was not with her; but she was not selfish, and did +not complain if Bessie sometimes left her for a while.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII">VIII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>BESSIE'S LITTLE SERMON.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-117.jpg" alt="O" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">O</span>NE afternoon when the children had gone over to the hotel to see +grandmamma, a basket of fine fruit came, from Riverside. They had not +been to the colonel's room for two or three days, for he had been +suffering very much, and was not able to see any one. When the fruit +came grandmamma put some on a plate, and sent Bessie with it to the +colonel's door, but told her that she must not go in.</p> + +<p>Bessie went to the door, and, putting her plate down on the hall floor, +knocked very gently. Mrs. Rush came and opened the door, and, taking +up her plate again, Bessie handed it to her, gave her grandmamma's +message, and was going away, when she heard the colonel's voice. "Is +that my pet?" he said.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and I love you very much, and I am so sorry for you; but +grandmamma said I must not come in."</p> + +<p>"But I want to see you," said the colonel.</p> + +<p>"You can come in, darling," said Mrs. Rush; "he is better this +afternoon, and would like to see you."</p> + +<p>"But I better mind grandma first; bettern't I?" said Bessie. "I'll yun +and ask her, and if she'll let me, I can come back."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush smiled, and said, "Very well;" and the obedient little girl +ran to ask her grandmamma's permission.</p> + +<p>Grandmamma said, "Certainly, if the colonel wanted her."</p> + +<p>"Didn't he invite me?" said Maggie, with rather a long face.</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie. "Would you yather I would not go? I'll stay with +you, if you want me."</p> + +<p>"I guess you had better go, if he wants you," said Maggie; "but don't +stay very long, Bessie; it's very sorrowful without you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poor Maggie," said Walter, who was standing by at the time; "it is +very cruel in the colonel not to ask you. Never mind, you shall come +and take care of me when I lose my foot."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it's me you ought to call cruel," said Maggie, in a very +doleful voice; "you know I am such a fidget, Walter, and I can't help +it. The other day the colonel was so sick, and I meant to be so quiet, +and yet I did two shocking things."</p> + +<p>"What did you do?" asked Walter.</p> + +<p>"I knocked over a chair, and I slammed the door; and so mamma said I +must not go again till he was better."</p> + +<p>"But what do you do without Bessie, when she goes?" said Walter; "I +thought you two could not live apart."</p> + +<p>"We can't," said Maggie; "but then, you see, the colonel is a sick, +lame soldier, with a foot cut off and a hole in his side; so, if he +wants Bessie, I ought to make a sacrifice of myself and let her go."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys laughed; but Tom said, "That is right, little woman, do all +you can for the soldiers; they have sacrificed enough for us." And +Bessie kissed her sister and ran back to the colonel's room.</p> + +<p>"Why, is he better?" she asked, as Mrs. Rush lifted her up to kiss him. +"I think he looks very worse. Oh, how big his eyes are!"</p> + +<p>The colonel laughed. "I am like the wolf in Red Riding-Hood; am I not, +Bessie?" he said.</p> + +<p>"No," she answered, "not a bit; you are just like my own dear soldier, +only I wish you did not look so white."</p> + +<p>"I think he will look better to-morrow, Bessie," said Mrs. Rush. "He +has suffered terribly the last two days; but he is easier now, though +he is very tired and weak, so we must not talk much to him."</p> + +<p>"I wont talk a word, only if he speaks to me," said Bessie; and she +brought a footstool and sat down by the side of the sofa. The colonel +held out his hand to her, and she put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> her own little one in it and +sat perfectly quiet. He lay looking at her, with a smile, for a few +minutes, but presently his eyes closed, and Bessie thought he was +asleep. He looked more ill when his eyes were shut than when they +were open; his face was so very, very pale, and his black hair and +beard made it look whiter still. Mrs. Rush sat by the sofa fanning her +husband, while the little girl watched him with earnest, loving eyes.</p> + +<p>At last she whispered, "If he dies, he'll go to heaven, 'cause he's so +very brave and good; wont he?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush did not speak, but Bessie did not need any answer. She was +quite sure in her own mind; for she never imagined that this brave +soldier did not love his Saviour. "He could not be so brave and good if +he did not love Jesus very much," she said, looking up at Mrs. Rush. +She could not see the lady's face very plainly, for she was bending +it down almost close to the pillows. Bessie went on very softly and +gravely: "I suppose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> that's the yeason he's so patient too. Papa says +he never saw any one so patient; and I guess he's like lame Jemmy. +Jemmy said he couldn't help being patient when he thought how much his +Saviour suffered for him, and I guess the colonel is just like him; +and he was so brave in the battles, 'cause he knew Jesus loved him and +would take him to heaven if he was killed. He would have been afraid, +if he didn't know that. And I suppose when he was hurt in that battle +and lay on the ground all night, and his own soldiers didn't know where +he was, but thought the Sepoys had him, he thought about Jesus and his +Father in heaven all the time, and yemembered how Jesus died for him, +and kept saying his prayers to them; and so they took care of him, and +let his own soldiers come and find him. Oh, I know he must love Jesus +very much. And don't you think Jesus took such care of him so he could +love him more yet?" Mrs. Rush's face was quite down on her husband's +pillows now, and Bessie looked back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> at him. He had turned his head, +and she could not see his face either, but she felt the hand, in which +her own was lying, moving a little uneasily.</p> + +<p>"I'm 'fraid I esturb him," she said; "I mustn't whisper any more."</p> + +<p>She kissed his hand very gently, and laid her head on the sofa beside +it. The room was rather dark, and very still, and in a few moments +she was fast asleep. After a while the colonel turned his head again, +opened his eyes and looked at her. Then Mrs. Rush lifted up her face.</p> + +<p>"Were you asleep, Horace?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, rather crossly, and moving his head impatiently; "I wish +you would take her away."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush was glad that Bessie did not hear him; she knew that this +would have grieved her. She lifted the little darling in her arms, and +carried her across the floor to her grandmamma's room. Mrs. Stanton +herself opened the door; there was no one else in the room.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This precious child is asleep," said Mrs. Rush, in a low voice. "Shall +I leave her with you?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stanton asked her to lay Bessie on the bed. She did so, and then +bent over her for a moment, and when she raised her head, Mrs. Stanton +saw how very pale and sad her sweet face was.</p> + +<p>"What is it, my child?" asked the kind old lady, taking her hand. Mrs. +Rush burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Is your husband worse? Do you think him in danger?"</p> + +<p>"Not for this life, but for that which is to come," sobbed Mrs. Rush, +laying her head on Mrs. Stanton's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"My poor child! and is it so?" said grandmamma.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, and he will not hear a word on the subject; he has forbidden +me to mention it to him. And if he would let me, I do not know how to +teach him. I am only a beginner myself. These things are all so new +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> me; for it was not until I feared that I was to lose him that I +felt my own need of more than human strength to uphold me. Bessie, dear +little unconscious preacher, has just said more in his hearing than he +has allowed me to say for months. God, in his mercy, grant that her +innocent words may touch his heart. Dear Mrs. Stanton, pray for him and +for me."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stanton tried to comfort her, and then the old lady and the young +one knelt down together, while little Bessie slept on, knowing nothing +of the hopes and fears and sorrows of those who prayed beside her.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX">IX.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>FAITH.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-126.jpg" alt="N" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">"N</span>URSEY," said Bessie, the next morning, as nurse was putting on her +shoes and stockings, after giving her her bath, "I can't think how it +is."</p> + +<p>"How what is, dear?"</p> + +<p>"About the Trinity."</p> + +<p>"Well!" said nurse. "The Trinity! and what put that into your head?"</p> + +<p>"It's not in my head," said Bessie; "I can't get it there. I try and +try to think how it can be, and I can't. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, +three Persons and one God," she repeated, slowly; "how can it be, +nursey? I know the Father means our Father in heaven, and the Son means +Jesus, and the Holy Ghost means Heavenly Spirit; but there's only one +God, and I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"And wiser heads than yours can't understand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> it, my lamb," said +nurse; "don't bother your little brains about that. It's just one +of those things we must take upon faith; we must believe it without +understanding it. Don't you think about it any more till you are older."</p> + +<p>But Bessie did think about it; and her thoughtful little face looked +more grave and earnest than usual all that day. Mamma wondered what she +was considering, but said nothing, for she was sure that Bessie would +soon come to her if she was in any difficulty.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking about, Bessie?" asked the colonel that +afternoon, when she was in his room. He was much better, and was +sitting up in his easy-chair.</p> + +<p>"What is faith?" asked Bessie, answering his question by another, and +turning her great serious, brown eyes on his face. The colonel looked +surprised.</p> + +<p>"Faith?" he said. "Why, to have faith in a person is to believe in him +and trust in him."</p> + +<p>Bessie did not look satisfied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When you first went in bathing," said the colonel, "did you not feel +afraid?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," answered Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Why not? Did you not fear that those great waves would wash you away +and drown you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; before I went in, I thought I would be very 'fraid; but papa +said he would carry me in his arms, and wouldn't let me be drownded."</p> + +<p>"And did you believe him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," answered Bessie, opening her eyes very wide at this +question; "my father don't tell stories."</p> + +<p>"And you were not afraid when he carried you in his arms?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"That was faith,—faith in your father. You believed what he told you, +and trusted in his care."</p> + +<p>Bessie still looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the colonel, "don't you understand yet?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know how it is about things," said the little girl.</p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"Things that I don't know how they can be."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean, Bessie," said Mrs. Rush, "that you do not know how to +have faith in what you do not understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"See here, little old head on young shoulders," said the colonel, +drawing Bessie closer to him, and seeming much amused, "when I told you +that this box would make sweet music, did you believe me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Did you understand how it could?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what this paper-knife is made of?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"It is made of the shell of a fish; do you believe it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," answered Bessie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you did not see it made; how can you believe it?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause you tell me so."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, that is faith; you believe what I say, even when you +cannot understand how it is, because you trust me, or have faith in me, +for you know I never tell you anything that is not true. If I sometimes +told you what is false, you could not have faith in me; could you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the little girl, "but you never would tell me <i>falses</i>."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I would not, my pet," he said, smiling, and twisting one of +her curls over his finger.</p> + +<p>She stood for a few minutes, as if thinking over what he had told her, +and then, her whole face lighting up, she said, "Oh, yes, I know now! I +believe what papa tells me when he says he'll take care of me, 'cause +he always tells me true, and I know he can do it; and that's faith; and +I believe what you tell me, 'cause you tell me true; and that's faith; +and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> we believe what God tells us, even if we can't understand how it +can be, 'cause he tells us what is true; and that's faith. Now I know +what nursey meant."</p> + +<p>"What did nurse say, dear?" asked Mrs. Rush.</p> + +<p>"She said we must have faith about three Persons in one God, and +believe what we could not understand; but I think I do understand about +that too. I thinked about it when I was sitting on the yocks this +morning, and I am going to ask mamma if it is yight."</p> + +<p>"And what do you think about it, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Why," said Bessie, holding up her little finger, "don't you know +I have a silver three cent piece? Well, there's three pennies in +it—mamma said so,—but it's only one piece of money, and I suppose +it's somehow that way about three Persons in one God,—Father, Son, and +Holy Ghost,—three Persons in one God."<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> + +<p>If the colonel had looked surprised before,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> he looked still more so +now, while Mrs. Rush laid down her work and gazed at the child.</p> + +<p>"Who told you that, Bessie?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nobody," said Bessie, innocently; "I just thinked it; maybe it is +not yight. I couldn't ask mamma about it all day, 'cause she was busy, +or some one came to see her; and I don't like to ask her things when +somebody is there."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush looked out of the window by which she sat, and seemed to be +watching the sea; and Bessie stood, softly patting the colonel's knee +with her hand, while for a moment or two no one spoke. Suddenly Bessie +looked up in the colonel's face.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Yush," she said, "don't you have a great deal of faith?"</p> + +<p>"In some people, Bessie," he answered. "I have a great deal of faith in +my little wife, and a great deal in my pet Bessie, and some few others."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I mean in our Father," she said. "I should think you'd have more +faith than 'most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> anybody, 'cause he took such good care of you in the +battles."</p> + +<p>"What?" said the colonel, "when my leg was shot off?"</p> + +<p>Bessie did not know whether he was in earnest or not, but she did not +think it was a thing to joke about, and he did not look very well +pleased, though he laughed a little when he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't make fun about it," she said, "I don't think He would like +it. He could have let you be killed if He chose, but He didn't; and +then He took such care of you all that night, and let your men come +and find you. Don't you think He did it 'cause He wanted you to love +Him more than you did before? Oh, I know you must have a great deal of +faith! Didn't you keep thinking of Jesus all that night, and how he +died for you so his Father could forgive your sins, and take you to +heaven if you died?"</p> + +<p>"I was very thankful when I heard my men coming, Bessie; but I was too +weak to think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> much," said the colonel. "Come, let us wind the box and +have some music; hand me that key."</p> + +<p>"But you think a great deal about it when you don't feel so bad; don't +you?" persisted the child, as she gave him the key of the musical box.</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" said the colonel, throwing it down again on the table; "what +absurdity it is to fill a child's head—"</p> + +<p>"Horace!" said Mrs. Rush, in a quick, startled voice.</p> + +<p>The colonel stopped short, then taking up the paper-cutter, began +tapping the table in a very impatient manner. "I am sick of the whole +thing," he said; "there seems to be no end to it. Wife, sister, and +friend, from the parson to the baby, every one has something to say on +the same subject. I tell you I will have no more of it from any one. +I should have supposed I would have been safe there. And my own words +turned into a handle against me too." And he looked at Bessie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> who +had drawn a little away from him and stood gazing at him with fear and +wonder in her large eyes. She had never seen him angry before, and she +could not think what had made him so now.</p> + +<p>"Am I naughty?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, darling," said Mrs. Rush, holding out her hand.</p> + +<p>Bessie ran over to her. Mrs. Rush lifted her up in her lap.</p> + +<p>"Did I talk too much?" asked Bessie. "I did not mean to tease him."</p> + +<p>"See that steamship coming in, Bessie," said Mrs. Rush, in a voice that +shook a little. "I think it must be the 'Africa,' which is to bring +Gracie Howard's father. Will she not be glad to see him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie; but she did not look at the steamer, but watched +the colonel, who still seemed vexed, and kept up his tattoo with the +paper-cutter.</p> + +<p>Nobody spoke again for a few moments, and Bessie grew more and more +uncomfortable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> Presently she gave a long sigh, and leaned her cheek on +her hand.</p> + +<p>"Are you tired, dear?" asked Mrs. Rush.</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie, "but I'm so uncomf'able. I think I had yather go to +mamma in grandmamma's yoom."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush put her down, and was leading her away, but when they reached +the door, Bessie drew her hand from hers and ran back to the colonel. +"I am sorry I teased you," she said. "I didn't know you didn't like +people to talk about that night; I'll never do it any more again."</p> + +<p>The colonel threw down the paper-cutter, and catching her in his arms, +kissed her heartily two or three times. "You do not tease me, my pet," +he said; "you did not know how cross your old soldier could be; did +you?"</p> + +<p>"You was not so very cross," she said, patting his cheek lovingly with +her little hand. "Sick, lame people can't be patient all the time, and +I do talk too much sometimes; mamma says I do. Next time I come, I'll +be so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> quiet." Then she ran back to Mrs. Rush, who took her to her +grandmamma's room and left her at the door.</p> + +<p>Bessie went to mamma, and tried to climb upon her lap. Mrs. Bradford +lifted her up, but she was talking to her mother, and did not notice +her little girl's troubled face till Mrs. Stanton signed to her to look +at Bessie. Then she asked, "What is it, dearest?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, mamma," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Has something troubled you?" asked mamma.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie; "I teased the colonel."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Maggie, "did you slam the door?"</p> + +<p>"No, I talked about what he didn't like," said Bessie, with a quivering +lip; "I talked about that night, and it teased him. I didn't know he +didn't like to hear about it, mamma. I s'pose it's because he suffered +so much he don't like to think of it."</p> + +<p>Mamma had no need to ask what night she meant; ever since Bessie +had heard of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> terrible night when the colonel had lain upon the +battle-field, faint and almost dying from his dreadful wounds, thinking +that he should never see his home and friends again, the story had +seemed to be constantly in her mind; and she spoke of it so often that +her mother knew quite well what she meant. "What did you say about it, +dear?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Bessie could not remember all, but she told enough to let her mother +see what had displeased the colonel. But Mrs. Bradford did not tell her +little girl, for she knew it would distress her very much to know that +the brave soldier of whom she was so fond did not like to be reminded, +even by a little child, of his debts and duty to the merciful Father +who had kept him through so many dangers and who had sent his dear Son +to die for him.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The above train of reasoning was actually carried out by a +child of five years.</p></div></div> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X">X.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE SICK BABY.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-139.jpg" alt="O" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">O</span>NE night the dear little baby was very sick. Bessie woke many times, +and as often as she did so, she found that nurse had not come to bed, +and when she looked through the open door which led into her mother's +room, she saw either her father or mother walking up and down with the +baby, trying to hush her pitiful cries and moans. In the morning the +doctor was sent for, and grandmamma came over to the cottage and stayed +all day; but the baby grew worse and worse. In the afternoon Maggie +and Bessie went into their mamma's room and stood by her side looking +at their little sister, who was lying on her lap. The baby seemed very +restless, and was moaning and throwing its arms about; suddenly it +threw back its head with a very strange look on its face, and clinched +its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> tiny hands. Mamma caught it in her arms, and she and grandmamma +called for nurse to bring warm water. Mrs. Jones came with it in a +minute, saying, "I had it all ready, for I thought it would be wanted." +Maggie ran away; she could not bear to see baby look and act so +strangely; but Bessie stayed till grandmamma sent her out of the room. +In a short time, Jane came to take the little girls to the beach. They +did not want to go, and begged her to let them stay at home; but she +said she could not keep Franky in the house all the afternoon, and she +thought their mamma would wish them to go out as usual; so they said no +more, and went with her, like the obedient children they were.</p> + +<p>They found Colonel and Mrs. Rush down on the beach. Mrs. Rush talked to +Jane a little, and then said she would go up and see baby. She left the +little girls with the colonel, and he tried to amuse them; but although +he told them a very interesting story, they did not care about it half +as much as usual.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush stayed a good while, and came back with a very grave face, +and when her husband asked, "How is the child?" she looked at him +without speaking; but Maggie and Bessie knew by this that the baby was +worse. Then Mrs. Rush asked them if they did not want to go to the +hotel and have tea with her and the colonel, but they said "No," they +wanted to go home.</p> + +<p>When they went back to the house, Jane left the little girls sitting +on the door-step, while she took Franky in to give him his supper. It +was a very quiet, lovely evening. The sun had gone down, but it was +not dark yet. The sky was very blue, and a few soft gray clouds, with +pink edges, were floating over it. Down on the beach they could see +the people walking and driving about; but not a sound was to be heard +except the cool, pleasant dash of the waves, and Farmer Jones' low +whistle as he sat on the horse-block with Susie on his knee. Susie +sucked her fat thumb, and stared at the children. They sat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> there +without speaking, with their arms round each other's waists, wishing +they knew about the baby. Presently Mrs. Jones came down stairs and +called out over the children's heads, "Sam'l." Mr. Jones got up off the +horse-block and came towards them. "Here," said Mrs. Jones, handing +him a paper, "they want you to go right off to the station and send +up a telegraph for the city doctor. Here it is; Mr. Bradford writ it +himself, and he says you're to lose no time. 'Taint a mite of use +though, and it's just a senseless wastin' of your time."</p> + +<p>"Not if they want it done," said Jones. "Why, Susan, s'pose everybody +hadn't done everything they could when we thought this one was going +to be took, wouldn't we have thought they was hard-hearted creeturs? I +aint done thanking the Almighty yet for leaving her to us, and I aint +the man to refuse nothing to them as is in like trouble,—not if it was +to ride all the way to York with the telegram."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't want you to refuse 'em," said Mrs. Jones,—"one can't +say no to them as has a dyin' child; but I do say it's no use. It will +all be over long before the doctor comes; all the doctors in York can't +save that poor little lamb. Anyhow, if I was Miss Bradford, I wouldn't +take on so; she's got plenty left."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my part, anyhow," said the farmer, as he handed Susie to her +mother, and then hurried off to saddle his horse and ride away to the +station as fast as possible, while Mrs. Jones carried Susie off to the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Maggie," whispered Bessie, "what does she mean?"</p> + +<p>"The bad, hateful thing!" answered Maggie, with a sudden burst of +crying; "she means our baby is going to die. She wouldn't like any one +to say that of her Susie, and I don't believe it a bit. Bessie, I can't +bear her if she does make us cookies and turnovers. I like Mr. Jones a +great deal better, and I wish he didn't have Mrs. Jones at all. Mamma +wont have plenty left if our baby dies; six isn't a bit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> too many, and +she can't spare one of us, I know."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps Jesus wants another little angel up in heaven," said +Bessie, "and so he's going to take our baby."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish he would take somebody else's baby," said Maggie. +"There's Mrs. Martin, she has thirteen children, and I should think she +could spare one very well; and there's a whole lot of little babies at +the Orphan Asylum, that haven't any fathers and mothers to be sorry +about them."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he thinks our baby is the sweetest," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I know she is the sweetest," said Maggie, "but that's all the more +reason we want her ourselves. She is so little and so cunning; I think +she grows cunninger and cunninger every day. Day before yesterday she +laughed out loud when I was playing with her, and put her dear little +hands in my curls and pulled them, and I didn't mind it so very much if +she did pull so hard I had to squeal a little;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> and oh! I'd let her do +it again, if she would only get well. Don't you think, Bessie, if we +say a prayer, and ask Jesus to let us keep her, he will?"</p> + +<p>"I think he will," said Bessie; "we'll try."</p> + +<p>"Let us go into the sitting-room," said Maggie, "there is no one there."</p> + +<p>"Oh! let us stay out here," answered Bessie, "there's such a beautiful +sky up there. Perhaps Jesus is just there looking at us, and maybe he +could hear us a little sooner out here. Nobody will see us."</p> + +<p>They knelt down together by the seat on the porch. "You say it, +Bessie," said Maggie, who was still sobbing very hard. She laid her +head down on the bench, and Bessie put her hands together, and with +the tears running over her cheeks said, "Dear Jesus, please don't take +our darling little baby to be an angel just yet, if you can spare her. +She is so little and so sweet, and poor mamma will feel so sorry if +she goes away, and we will, too, and we want her so much. Please, dear +Jesus, let us keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> her, and take some poor little baby that don't have +any one to love it, Amen."</p> + +<p>They sat down again on the door-step till Harry and Fred came in.</p> + +<p>"How is baby?" asked Harry.</p> + +<p>"We don't know," said Maggie; "nobody came down this ever so long."</p> + +<p>"Go up and see, Midget."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I can't, Harry," said Maggie. "I don't want to see that strange +look on baby's face."</p> + +<p>"Then you go, Bessie," said Harry; "my shoes make such a noise, and you +move just like a little mouse. You wont disturb them."</p> + +<p>Bessie went up stairs and peeped in at the door of her mother's room. +There was no one there but papa and mamma and the baby. Papa was +walking up and down the room with his arms folded, looking very sad and +anxious, and mamma sat on a low chair with baby on her lap. The little +thing lay quiet now, with its eyes shut and its face so very, very +white. Mamma was almost as pale, and she did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> move her eyes from +baby's face even when Bessie came softly up and stood beside her.</p> + +<p>Bessie looked at her baby sister and then at her mother. Mamma's face +troubled her even more than the baby's did, and she felt as it she must +do something to comfort her. She laid her hand gently on her mother's +shoulder, and said, "Dear mamma, don't you want to have a little angel +of your own in heaven?" Mamma gave a start and put her arm farther +over the baby, as if she thought something was going to hurt it. Papa +stopped his walk and Bessie went on,—</p> + +<p>"Maggie and I asked Jesus to spare her to us, if he could; but if he +wants her for himself, we ought not to mind very much; ought we? And +if you feel so bad about it 'cause she's so little and can't walk or +speak, I'll ask him to take me too, and then I can tell the big angels +just how you took care of her, and I'll help them. And then when you +come to heaven, you will have two little angels of your own waiting for +you. And we'll always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> be listening near the gate for you, dear mamma, +so that when you knock and call us, we'll be yeady to open it for you; +and if we don't come yight away, don't be frightened, but knock again, +for we'll only be a little way off, and we'll come just as fast as I +can bring baby; and she'll know you, for I'll never let her forget you. +And while you stay here, dear mamma, wont it make you very happy to +think you have two little children angels of your own, waiting for you +and loving you all the time?"<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a></p> + +<p>Mamma had turned her eyes from the baby's face, and was watching her +darling Bessie as she stood there talking so earnestly yet so softly; +and now she put her arm around her and kissed her, while the tears ran +fast from her eyes and wet Bessie's cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Please don't cry, mamma," said the little girl; "I did not mean to +make you cry. Shall I ask Jesus to take me, too, if he takes the baby?"</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, no, my darling, ask him to leave you, that you may be your +mother's little comforter, and pray that he may spare your sister too."</p> + +<p>"And if he cannot, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Then that he may teach us to say, 'Thy will be done,'" said her +father, coming close to them and laying his hand on Bessie's head. "He +knows what is best for us and for baby."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie, "and I suppose if he takes her, he will carry her +in his arms just as he is carrying the lambs in the picture of the Good +Shepherd in our nursery. We need not be afraid he wont take good care +of her; need we, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"No, darling," said Mrs. Bradford, "we need not fear to give her to his +care, and my Bessie has taught her mother a lesson."</p> + +<p>"Did I, mamma?" said the little girl, wondering what her mother meant; +but before she could answer, grandmamma came in with the country +doctor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford took Bessie in his arms, and after holding her down to her +mother for another kiss, carried her from the room. When he had her out +in the entry, he kissed her himself many times, and whispered, as if he +was speaking to himself, "God bless and keep my angel child."</p> + +<p>"Yes, papa," said Bessie, thinking he meant the baby, "and Maggie and I +will say another prayer about her to-night; and I keep thinking little +prayers about her all the time, and that's just the same, papa; isn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my darling," said her father; and then he put her down and stood +and watched her as she went down stairs.</p> + +<p>It was not the will of our Father in heaven that the dear little baby +should die. Late in the night the doctor came from New York, and God +heard the prayers of the baby's father and mother and little sisters, +and blessed the means that were used to make it well; and before the +morning it was better, and fell into a sweet, quiet sleep.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Almost the exact words of a very lovely child of a friend +of the writer.</p></div></div> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI">XI.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE HAPPY CIRCUMSTANCE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-151.jpg" alt="T" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">T</span>HE next morning, when Bessie woke up, it was very quiet in the +nursery. She lay still a moment, wondering what it was that had +troubled her last night; and just as she remembered about the baby, +she heard a little discontented sound at her side. She turned her +head and looked around, and there sat Maggie on the floor beside the +trundle-bed, with one sock and one shoe on, and the other shoe in her +hand. She looked rather cross.</p> + +<p>"Maggie," said Bessie, "has the baby gone to heaven?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Maggie, "and I don't believe she's going just yet. Our own +doctor came in the night, and she's a great deal better; and now she's +fast asleep."</p> + +<p>"And don't you feel glad then?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I am real glad of <i>that</i>," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you look glad? What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I can't find my clo'," said Maggie, in a fretful tone.</p> + +<p>"What clo'?"</p> + +<p>"Why, my sock."</p> + +<p>"Why don't nurse or Jane find it for you?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I can't wait," said Maggie; "I want it now; nurse is holding baby +because mamma has gone to sleep too, and Jane has taken Franky to +Harry's room to dress him, because she was afraid he would make a +noise; and she said if I put on my shoes and socks, and all the rest of +my under-clo's before she came back, I might put on yours, if you waked +up. And that's a great 'sponsibility, Bessie; and I want to do it, and +now I can't."</p> + +<p>"Look some more," said Bessie, who was very well pleased at the thought +of having her sister dress her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have looked all over," said Maggie. "I just expect a robber came in +the night and stole it."</p> + +<p>"Why, it would not fit him!" said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess he has a bad little robber girl of his own that he has +taken it to," said Maggie. "Anyhow, she'll be bare one foot, and I'm +glad of it."</p> + +<p>Bessie sat up in the bed and looked around the room. "I see a pair of +clean socks over there on your petticoats," she said.</p> + +<p>"So there is," said Maggie; and quite good-natured again, she began to +dress as fast as she could.</p> + +<p>"Maggie," said Bessie, as she lay down again to wait till her sister +was ready, "what was the name of that word you said?"</p> + +<p>"What,—'sponsibility?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's it; say it again."</p> + +<p>"Spons-er-bil-er-ty," said Maggie, slowly.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Bessie, with a long breath, as if that word was almost too +much for her, "what does it mean?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It means something to do or to take care of."</p> + +<p>"Then when mamma put baby on the bed the other day, and told me to take +care of her, was that a great spons-er-bil-er-ty?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"It's a nice word; isn't it, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but it is not so nice as happy circumstance."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is very nice? What does that mean, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"It means something very nice and pleasant. I'm going to say happy +circumstance to some one to-day, if I get a chance."</p> + +<p>"Whom are you going to say it to?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet; but I shall not say it to the boys, for they laugh +at us when we say grown-up words. You may say it, Bessie, if you want +to."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Bessie, "I would not say your new words before you say +them yourself; that would not be fair, and I would not do it for a +hundred dollars."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said Maggie, "I would not let any one else do it, but you may +say any of my words you want to, Bessie."</p> + +<p>While they were talking away, Maggie was putting on her clothes, and +then Bessie got up; and by the time Jane came back, Maggie had nearly +dressed her sister too. Jane called Maggie a good, helpful little girl, +which pleased her very much, for she liked praise.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, as the children were standing on the porch waiting for +Jane to take them for their walk, Harry came along and told them, if +they would come out to the barn, he would give them a swing. They never +said no to the offer of a swing, and, much pleased, followed him to the +barn, where they found Mr. Jones sitting outside of the door mending +his nets. He took down the swing for them, lifted Bessie in, and then +went back to his work. Maggie had said that Bessie should take her turn +first, and that, while Harry was swinging her, she would go out and +talk to Mr. Jones. They were very good friends now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> and Maggie was not +at all afraid of him, but sat watching him with great interest as he +filled up the broken places in his nets.</p> + +<p>"Well, and so the little sister is better this morning?" said Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie; "and we are very much obliged to you, Mr. Jones."</p> + +<p>"What for?" asked Jones.</p> + +<p>"Because you went so quick to send for our own doctor."</p> + +<p>"Deary me, that wasn't nothing," said Mr. Jones. "I'd ha' been a +heathen if I hadn't."</p> + +<p>Maggie stood silent for a few moments, watching him, and then said, +slowly, but very earnestly, "Mr. Jones, do you think Mrs. Jones is a +very happy circumstance?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones looked at her for a moment as if he did not quite understand +her, and then he smiled as he said, "Well, yes, I reckon I do; don't +you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I <i>don't</i>," said Maggie. "What did make you marry her, Mr. Jones?"</p> + +<p>"Because I thought she would make me a good wife."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 431px;"> +<img src="images/i-157.jpg" width="431" height="600" alt="Bessie talking to Mr. Jones." /> +<div class="caption">Bessie at Sea Side. p. 152.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And does she?"</p> + +<p>"First-rate; don't you think she does?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Maggie, "I don't like her very much; I like you a +great deal better than I do her; I think you are a very nice man, Mr. +Jones."</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm about of the same opinion about you," said Mr. Jones; "but +what is the reason you don't like Mrs. Jones?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Maggie, "because she—she—does things. She makes me just as +mad as a hop."</p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"She goes and has trundle-beds," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones laughed out now as he said, "Oh, you haven't got over that +trouble yet, eh? Well, what else does she do?"</p> + +<p>"She said we could spare our baby, and we couldn't," said Maggie, +angrily; "and she didn't want you to go send the message for our own +doctor. I think she ought to be ashamed."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She didn't mean it," said Mr. Jones, coaxingly.</p> + +<p>"People ought not to say things they don't mean," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"No more they oughtn't, but yet you see they do sometimes."</p> + +<p>"And she said mamma took on," said Maggie, "and mamma would not do such +a thing; mamma is a lady, and ladies do not take on."</p> + +<p>This seemed to amuse Mr. Jones more than anything else, and he laughed +so loud and so long that Mrs. Jones came out to the kitchen door. +"Sam'l," she called, "what are you making all that noise about?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't tell her!" said Maggie; while Mr. Jones laughed harder than +ever, and she saw that Mrs. Jones was coming towards them.</p> + +<p>"Don't you be afraid," said Mr. Jones, "I aint goin' to tell her."</p> + +<p>"Now aint you just ashamed of yourself, Sam'l," said Mrs. Jones as she +came up, "to be making all that hee-hawing, and poor Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> Bradford and +that little sick lamb lying asleep? Do you want to wake 'em up? Is he +laughing at you, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>Maggie hung her head, and looked as if she would like to run away.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose he's just tickled to death about some of your long words, +that he thinks so funny," said Mrs. Jones. "It does not take much to +set him going. Never you mind him, come along with me to the kitchen, +and see the nice ginger cakes I am makin' for your supper. I'll make +you and Bessie a gingerbread man apiece. Such good children you was +yesterday, keeping so quiet when the baby was sick, and trying to help +yourselves when your poor 'ma and your nurse was busy. If it had been +them young ones that was here last summer, they'd have kept the house +in a riot from night till morning when they was left to themselves. +Jane was tellin' me how nicely you dressed yourself and Bessie this +morning. Now, Sam'l, you stop bein' such a goose."</p> + +<p>Poor Maggie did not know which way to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> look. Here was Mrs. Jones, whom +she had just been saying she did not like, praising and petting her and +promising gingerbread men; and oh, Mr. Jones was laughing so! He was +not laughing out loud now, but he was shaking all over, and when Maggie +peeped at him from under her eyelashes, he twinkled his eyes at her, +as much as to say, "Now, what do you think of her?" Right glad was she +when Harry called her to take her turn at the swing, and she could run +away out of sight of Mr. and Mrs. Jones.</p> + +<p>In a few days the dear baby was quite well and bright again, while her +little sisters thought they loved her more than ever, now that she had +been spared to them when they had so much feared they were to lose her.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII">XII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>MISS ADAMS.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-163.jpg" alt="A" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">A</span>MONG the many pleasures which Maggie and Bessie Bradford enjoyed at +Quam Beach, there was none which they liked much better than going over +to the hotel to see the dear friends who were staying there. Sometimes +it was to stay a while with grandmamma and Aunt Annie; perhaps to take +a meal with them at the long hotel table; to hear grandmamma's stories, +or to have a frolic with Aunt Annie and their little playmates. Aunt +Annie was a young girl herself, merry and full of mischief, and liked +play almost as well as Maggie. Then there were those delightful visits +to Colonel and Mrs. Rush, which the colonel said he enjoyed more than +they did; but they thought that could not be possible. They knew a good +many of the other people, too, and almost every one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> was pleased to see +the two well-behaved, ladylike little girls.</p> + +<p>But there was staying at the hotel a lady who used to amaze Maggie +and Bessie very much. Her name was Miss Adams. She was very tall and +rather handsome, with bright, flashing black eyes, a beautiful color in +her cheeks, and very white teeth. But she had a loud, rough voice and +laugh, and a rude, wild manner, which was more like that of a coarse +man than a young lady. Then she talked very strangely, using a great +many words which are called "slang," and which are not nice for any +one to use, least of all for a lady. Maggie ran away whenever she came +near; but Bessie would stand and watch her with a grave, disapproving +air, which was very amusing to those who saw it.</p> + +<p>Miss Adams generally had a number of gentlemen around her, with whom +she was very familiar, calling them by their names without any "Mr.," +slapping them on the shoulder, laughing and talking at the top of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> her +voice, and altogether behaving in a very unladylike way. But Bessie +thought it very strange that sometimes, when Miss Adams had been acting +in this rough, noisy manner, after she went away, the gentlemen would +shrug their shoulders, and laugh and talk among themselves, as if they +were making unkind remarks about her. She thought they could not like +her very much, after all, when they did so.</p> + +<p>One evening Harry came home from the hotel in a state of great +indignation. Miss Adams had a beautiful dog named Carlo. He was a +water spaniel, and was a great favorite with all the boys, who often +coaxed him to the shore, where they could play with him. Miss Adams was +generally willing enough to have him go; but that afternoon, when she +was going out in her pony carriage, she wanted him to go with her, and +he was not to be found. Something had happened before to put her out, +and she was very angry at Carlo's absence. She had gone but a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +way, when it began to rain, and she had to turn back. This vexed her +still more; and just as she jumped from her carriage, Carlo ran up.</p> + +<p>"So, sir," she said, with an angry frown, "I'll teach you to run away +without leave!" and taking the poor dog by the back of the neck, she +thrashed him with the horse-whip she held in her other hand. Carlo +whined and howled, and looked up in her face with pitiful eyes; but she +only whipped him the harder. The ladies turned pale and walked away, +and the gentlemen begged her to stop, but all in vain; she kept on +until her arm was quite tired, and then the poor dog crept away shaking +and trembling all over. The boys were furious, and Maggie and Bessie +were very much distressed when they heard the story, and disliked Miss +Adams more than ever.</p> + +<p>When the baby was quite well again, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford took a drive +of some miles, to spend the day with an old friend. They took only +baby and nurse with them, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Maggie and Bessie went up to the hotel +to stay with their grandmamma. It was a very warm day, and grandmamma +called them indoors earlier than usual. But they did not care much, for +Aunt Annie was a capital playmate, and she amused them for a long time.</p> + +<p>But just as she was in the midst of a most interesting story, some +ladies came to make a visit to grandmamma. One of the ladies was old +and rather cross, and she did not like children, and Aunt Annie thought +that it would not be very pleasant for her little nieces to be in the +room while she was there. So she gave them a pack of picture cards and +a basket of shells, and said they might go and play with them on one of +the long settees which stood on the piazza.</p> + +<p>There were only one or two people on the piazza, and the children +spread out their shells and pictures, and were very busy and happy for +some time. They heard Miss Adams' loud voice in the hall, but did not +pay any attention to her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>Presently she came out on the piazza, followed by three or four +gentlemen, and looked around for a shady place. She saw none that she +liked as well as that where Maggie and Bessie were playing, and coming +up to them, she sat down on the other end of the bench. The gentlemen +stood around.</p> + +<p>"Here, Thorn," said Miss Adams, "sit down here;" and she moved nearer +to Bessie, sweeping down some of the shells and pictures with her +skirts. Mr. Thorn obeyed, and Maggie whispered to Bessie, "Let's go +away." Bessie said, "Yes;" and they began to gather up their treasures, +Maggie stooping to pick up those which Miss Adams had thrown down. +Presently Bessie felt a pretty hard pull at one of her long curls. She +was sure it was Miss Adams, although she did not see her; but she said +nothing, only shook back her hair, and put on the look she always did +when Miss Adams was doing anything of which she did not approve.</p> + +<p>There came another pull, this time a little harder. "Don't," said +Bessie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>A third pull, just as Maggie raised her head and saw Miss Adams' hand +at Bessie's hair.</p> + +<p>"Don't!" said Bessie again, in a louder and more impatient tone.</p> + +<p>"Come now, Lovatt," said Miss Adams, "are you not ashamed to be pulling +a young lady's hair?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Maggie, astonished out of her shyness, "you did it yourself! +I saw you."</p> + +<p>Miss Adams shook her fist at Maggie, and then gave a longer and harder +pull at Bessie's hair.</p> + +<p>"When I tell you <i>to don't</i>, why <i>don't</i> you don't?" said Bessie, +furiously, stamping her foot, and turning to Miss Adams, her face +crimson with anger.</p> + +<p>Miss Adams and the gentlemen set up a shout of laughter, and Mr. +Lovatt, who was standing just behind Bessie, caught her up in his arms +and held her high in the air.</p> + +<p>Now Bessie disliked Mr. Lovatt almost as much as she did Miss Adams. He +was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> great tease, and was always running after her and trying to kiss +her. He had never done it yet, for she had always managed to run away +from him, or some of her friends had interfered to save her from being +annoyed.</p> + +<p>"Put me down!" she said.</p> + +<p>"Not until you have given me three kisses," said Mr. Lovatt. "I have +you now, and you cannot help yourself."</p> + +<p>"Put me down!" screamed Bessie, furious with passion.</p> + +<p>"For shame, Lovatt!" said Mr. Thorn, and Mr. Lovatt looked for a moment +as if he was going to put Bessie down; but Miss Adams laughed and +said,—</p> + +<p>"You are not going to let that little mite get the better of you? +<i>Make</i> her kiss you. Such airs!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Lovatt lowered the struggling child a little, but still held her +fast in his arms, while Maggie ran off to call her grandmamma.</p> + +<p>"Kiss me, and I'll let you go," said Mr. Lovatt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wont, I wont!" shrieked Bessie. "I'll tell my papa."</p> + +<p>"Your papa is far away," said Miss Adams.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell Colonel Yush!" gasped Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I care a <i>rush</i> for him?" said Mr. Lovatt, as he tried to +take the kisses she would not give. Bessie screamed aloud, clinched one +little hand in Mr. Lovatt's hair, and with the other struck with all +her force upon the mouth that was so near her own.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" said Mr. Lovatt, as he quickly set Bessie upon her feet, "who +would have thought that tiny hand could have stung so?"</p> + +<p>"You little tiger!" said Miss Adams, seizing Bessie by the shoulder and +giving her a shake. "You are the child they call so good; are you? Why, +there's not another in the house would have flown into such a passion +for nothing. What a furious temper!"</p> + +<p>Bessie had never been shaken before. It was a punishment which Mr. and +Mrs. Bradford<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> would not have thought proper for a child, were she +ever so naughty, and she had never been punished at all by any one but +her father or mother, and that but seldom. But it was not so much the +shaking as Miss Adams' words which sobered Bessie in an instant. She +had been in a passion again! She stood perfectly silent, her lips and +cheeks growing so white that Miss Adams was frightened, but just then +Mrs. Stanton stepped out on the piazza and came quickly toward them. +They all looked ashamed and uncomfortable as the stately old lady +lifted her little granddaughter in her arms and spoke a few words of +stern reproof to the thoughtless young people who could find amusement +in tormenting a little child. Then she carried Bessie away.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII">XIII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>BESSIE'S REPENTANCE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-173.jpg" alt="M" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">M</span>RS. STANTON would have come sooner, but her visitors were just leaving +when Maggie came in, and she did not quite understand at first how it +was. Miss Ellery, a young lady who had been standing by, rushed into +Mrs. Stanton's room after she carried Bessie in, and told her how the +little girl had been treated. Mrs. Stanton was very much displeased, +but just now she could think of nothing but the child's distress. She +shook all over, and the sobs and tears came faster and faster till +grandmamma was afraid she would be ill. She soothed and comforted and +petted in vain. Bessie still cried as if her heart would break. All she +could say was, "Oh, mamma, mamma! I want my own mamma!"</p> + +<p>At last Mrs. Stanton said kindly but firmly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> "Bessie, my child, you +<i>must</i> be quiet. You will surely be sick. Grandmamma is very sorry for +you, but your head cannot hurt you so very much now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" sobbed the little girl, clinging about her grandmother's +neck, "it isn't that, grandmamma; I don't care much if she did pull my +hair; but oh, I was so wicked! I was in a passion again, and I was <i>so</i> +bad! I struck that man, I know I did. Jesus will be sorry, and he will +be angry with me too. He will think that I don't want to be his little +child any more, 'cause I was so very, very naughty. Oh! what shall I +do?"</p> + +<p>"Tell Jesus that you are sorry, and ask him to forgive you, Bessie," +said grandmamma, gently.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I am 'fraid he can't," sobbed Bessie; "he must be so very angry. +I didn't think about him, and I didn't try one bit, grandmamma. I just +thought about what Miss Adams and that man did to me, and I was in such +a dreadful passion; I never was so bad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> before. Oh, I wish I could tell +my own mamma about it!"</p> + +<p>All this was said with many sobs and tears and catchings of her breath, +and grandmamma wished that Miss Adams could see the distress she had +caused.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," she said, "why did Jesus come down from heaven and die on the +cross?"</p> + +<p>"So our Father in heaven could forgive us," answered the child more +quietly.</p> + +<p>"And do you not think that his precious blood is enough to wash away +our great sins as well as those which we may think are smaller?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, grandmamma."</p> + +<p>"Now, no sin is small in the eyes of a just and holy God, Bessie; but +when he made such a great sacrifice for us, it was that he might be +able to forgive <i>every one</i> of our sins against him, if we are truly +sorry for them. And he will surely do so, my darling, and help and love +us still, if we ask him for the sake of that dear Son."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And will he listen to me <i>now</i>, grandmamma, just when I was so very +naughty?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is always ready to hear us. No matter how much we have grieved +him, he will not turn away when we call upon him."</p> + +<p>Bessie was silent for some minutes with her face hidden on her +grandmother's neck, and her sobs became less violent. At last she +whispered, "Grandmamma, do you think Jesus can love me just as much as +he did before?"</p> + +<p>"Just as much, my precious one," said grandmamma, drawing her arms +close about Bessie, and pressing her lips on the little curly head. +Then Bessie raised her face and turned around in her grandmamma's lap. +A very pale little face it was, and very weak and tired she looked; +but she lay quite quiet now except for a long sob which still came +now and then. Maggie wondered why grandmamma bit her lip, and why her +eyebrows drew together in a frown, as if she were angry. She could not +be displeased with Bessie now, she thought.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>Presently grandmamma began to sing in a low voice,—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Just as I am, without one plea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Save that thy blood was shed for me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And that thou bid'st me come to thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O Lamb of God! I come.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Just as I am, and waiting not<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To rid my soul of one dark blot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O Lamb of God! I come.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Just as I am thou wilt receive,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because thy promise I believe,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O Lamb of God! I come.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Just as I am,—thy love unknown<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has broken every barrier down;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now to be thine, yea, thine alone<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O Lamb of God! I come."<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>When she had sung one verse, Maggie joined in, and Bessie lay +listening. When they were through, Mrs. Stanton put Bessie down in a +corner of the lounge, and said the children must have some lunch. First +she rang the bell, and then went to a little cupboard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> at the side of +the fireplace and brought out two small white plates, which Maggie and +Bessie knew quite well. Presently the waiter came to the door to know +what Mrs. Stanton wanted. This was James, the head waiter. He knew +Maggie and Bessie, and they were great favorites with him. His wife +washed for some of the ladies in the hotel, and once when she came +there with some clothes, she brought her little girl with her, and left +her in the hall with her father, who was busy there. She was a <i>very</i> +little girl, and could just walk alone, and while she was toddling +about after her father, she fell down and knocked her head against the +corner of a door. She cried very hard, and James tried to quiet her, +lest she should disturb some of the boarders. But she had a great bump +on her head, and she did not see any reason why she should be still +when it hurt her so. She was still crying when Maggie and Bessie came +through the hall. Each had a stick of candy, which some one had just +given them. When they heard the little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> one crying, they stopped to ask +what ailed her.</p> + +<p>"I'll give her my candy," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, do," said Bessie, "and I'll give you half of mine."</p> + +<p>The child stopped crying when she had the nice stick of candy. James +was very much pleased, and after that he was always glad to wait upon +our little girls. He had just now heard the story of Bessie's trouble, +for Miss Ellery had taken pains to spread it through the house, so +vexed was she at Miss Adams, and James had been by when she was telling +some of the ladies. He felt very sorry for Bessie, and wished that he +could do something for her. When he came to answer Mrs. Stanton's ring, +she asked him to bring some bread and butter.</p> + +<p>"Is it for the little ladies, ma'am?" asked James. Mrs. Stanton said, +"Yes," and James asked if they would not like toast better. Two or +three times when Maggie and Bessie had taken tea with their grandmamma, +he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> noticed that Bessie always asked for toast. Mrs. Stanton +thanked him and said yes, for she thought perhaps Bessie would eat +toast when she would not eat bread.</p> + +<p>"But can I have it at this time of the day?" she said.</p> + +<p>"No fear, ma'am," said James. "You shall have it, if I make it myself;" +and with a nod to the children, he went away.</p> + +<p>Bessie sat quiet in a corner of the sofa, still looking very grave.</p> + +<p>"Don't you feel happy now, Bessie?" said Maggie, creeping close to her, +and putting her arm around her. "I am sure Jesus will forgive you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think he will," said Bessie; "but I can't help being sorry +'cause I was so naughty."</p> + +<p>"You was not half so bad as Miss Adams, if you did get into a passion," +said Maggie, "and I don't believe he'll forgive her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maggie!" said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't believe she'll ask him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I'll ask him," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Now, Bessie, don't you do it!"</p> + +<p>"But I ought to ask him, if I want him to forgive me," said Bessie. +"When we say 'Our Father in heaven,' we say 'Forgive us our sins as we +forgive those that sin against us.' I think Miss Adams sinned against +me a little bit; don't you, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," said Maggie. "No little bit about it. <i>I</i> think she +sinned against you a great bit,—as much as the whole ocean."</p> + +<p>"Then if I want Jesus to forgive me, I ought to forgive her, and to +ask him to forgive her too. I think I ought. I'm going to ask mamma +to-night."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> sha'n't do it, I know," said Maggie. "I wish I was as tall as she +is; no,—as tall as papa or Colonel Rush, and oh! wouldn't she get it +then!"</p> + +<p>"What would you do?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I don't know,—something. Oh, yes! don't you know the pictures of +Bluebeard's wives, where they're all hanging up by their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> hair? I'd +just hang her up that way, and then <i>her</i> hair would be nicely pulled. +And I'd get the boys to come and poke her with sticks." Maggie said +this, shaking her head with a very determined look.</p> + +<p>The idea of Miss Adams hanging up by her hair made Bessie laugh; but +in a moment she looked grave again. "I don't believe that's yight, +Maggie," she said.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Maggie. "I'm going to say it."</p> + +<p>Just then James came back, and they forgot Miss Adams for a while. He +brought a nice plate of toast and some butter. Grandmamma spread two +pieces of toast and laid them on the little plates, and then went back +again to the famous cupboard and brought out—oh, delicious!—a box of +guava jelly. She put a spoonful on each plate, and gave them to the +children. "Now, remember," she said, "the jelly goes with the toast."</p> + +<p>Bessie looked rather doubtfully at her toast. "Grandmamma, I don't feel +very hungry."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you must eat something, Bessie; it is long after your luncheon +time, and it will not do for you to go until dinner without eating. +Mamma will think I did not take good care of you."</p> + +<p>But the toast tasted so good with the guava jelly that Bessie eat the +whole of hers and even asked for more, to grandma's great pleasure. +When she brought it to her with some more jelly, she saw that Bessie +had still some of the sweetmeats left on her plate. "Don't you like +your jelly, dear?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am," said Bessie, "but I didn't know if I could eat all the +toast, and I thought perhaps you only wanted me to eat just so much +share of the guava as I eat a share of the toast; so I eat that first +to be sure."</p> + +<p>Grandma smiled, but she did not praise her honest little granddaughter, +for she did not think it best.</p> + +<p>When Aunt Annie heard Miss Ellery tell how Bessie had been treated, she +was very angry, and said some things about Miss Adams<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> and Mr. Lovatt +which her mother did not wish to have her say before the children. She +told her so, speaking in French; so Annie said no more just then; but +as soon as Bessie ceased crying, she ran out to tell Miss Adams what +she thought of her conduct. But happily Miss Adams was not to be found, +and before Annie saw her again, her mother had persuaded her that it +was better to say nothing about it.</p> + +<p>But now when she could not find Miss Adams, she went off to Mrs. +Rush's room and told her and the colonel the whole story. The colonel +was angry enough to please even Annie. He said so much, and grew so +excited, that Mrs. Rush was sorry Annie had told him. He was far more +displeased than he would have been with any insult to himself, and +when, soon after, he met Mr. Lovatt in the hall, he spoke so severely +and angrily to him that Mr. Lovatt was much offended. Very high words +passed between the two gentlemen, and the quarrel might have become +serious, if Mr. Howard had not interfered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Adams heard all this, and when she found how much trouble and +confusion she had caused by her cruel thoughtlessness, she felt rather +ashamed, and wished she had not tormented the little child who had +never done her any harm. But this was not the last of it, for Miss +Adams was to be punished a little by the last person who meant to do +it.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV">XIV.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>WHO IS A LADY?</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-186.jpg" alt="I" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">I</span>N the afternoon the children asked their grandmother if they might go +down upon the beach, but she said it was still too warm, and she did +not wish Bessie to go out until the sun was down.</p> + +<p>"Grandma is going to take her nap now," said Aunt Annie; "suppose we +go out on the piazza and have a store, and ask Lily and Gracie to come +play with you."</p> + +<p>"Is Miss Adams there?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"No, but the colonel has had his arm-chair taken out, and is sitting +there with Mrs. Rush, and I am going there with my work; so you will be +quite safe."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then we'll go," said Bessie. She did not feel afraid where the +colonel was.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to sew with Mrs. Rush again?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aunt Annie laughed and pinched her cheeks, telling her not to be +inquisitive. For the last few days Aunt Annie had always seemed to be +sewing with Mrs. Rush, and they were very busy, but they did not appear +to wish to let the little girls know what they were doing. Annie was +always whisking her work out of their sight, and if they asked any +questions, they were put off, or told, as Maggie was now, not to be +curious.</p> + +<p>Once when they were staying with the colonel, when Mrs. Rush had gone +out for a while, he sent Bessie to a certain drawer to find a knife. +Bessie did as she was told, but as she was looking for it, she suddenly +called out, "Oh, what a dear darling little cap! just like a dolly's. +Why, does Mrs. Yush play with dolls when nobody looks at her?"</p> + +<p>"Holloa!" said the colonel, "I forgot; come away from that drawer. I'm +a nice man; can't keep my own secrets."</p> + +<p>Maggie was going to ask some questions; but the colonel began to talk +about something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> else, and they both forgot the little cap. But they +were very curious to know why Aunt Annie and Mrs. Rush were always +whispering and laughing and showing each other their work, as well as +why it was so often put away when they came near. To-day Aunt Annie was +embroidering a little piece of muslin, but she did not put it out of +their sight, though she would answer no questions about it.</p> + +<p>They all went out on the piazza to set about making what Maggie called, +"A Grocery and <i>Perwision</i> Store." The piazza steps ended in two large +blocks of wood, and on one of these they were to play. Aunt Annie made +some paper boxes to hold some of their things, and they had clam shells +for the rest. They had sand for sugar, blades of timothy grass for +corn, sea-weed for smoked beef and ham, and small pebbles for eggs, +with larger ones for potatoes. In short, it was quite wonderful to see +the number of things they contrived to have for sale. When the colonel +found what they were about, he called for a couple of clam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> shells, and +sent his man for a piece of wood and some twine; with these he made a +pair of scales, which Maggie and Bessie thought quite splendid. To be +sure, one side was ever so much heavier than the other, but that did +not matter in the least; neither they nor their customers would be +troubled by a trifle like that. Then he gave them a couple of bullets +and some shot for weights, so that the whole thing was fixed in fine +style.</p> + +<p>Maggie went to call Lily and Gracie, and when Mamie Stone heard what +was going on, she asked if she might come too. Maggie said "Yes," for +Mamie was not so disagreeable as she used to be when she first came to +Quam Beach. However fretful and selfish she was when she was playing +with other children, she was almost always pleasant when she was with +Maggie and Bessie.</p> + +<p>Maggie went back with her to their little playmates, and in a few +moments they were all as busy as bees. Maggie said Bessie must be +store-keeper, for she knew she did not feel like running about.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had been playing but a little while, when Walter came up, and when +he saw what they were doing, he said he would be a customer too. He +was a capital playfellow, and pretended to be ever so many different +people. First, he was an old negro man, then he was a naughty boy, who +meddled with everything on the counter, and gave the little shop-woman +a great deal of trouble, which she enjoyed very much; then he was a +Frenchman, who spoke broken English; and after that, he pretended to be +a cross old Irishman.</p> + +<p>While they were playing so nicely, who should come sweeping down the +piazza but Miss Adams, dressed in her riding-habit? Away went all the +little girls like a flock of frightened birds. Mamie and Lily ran into +the parlor, where they peeped at her from behind the blinds; Gracie +scrambled into Annie Stanton's lap; Maggie squeezed herself in between +the colonel and Mrs. Rush; and Bessie walked to the other side of the +colonel, where she stood with her hand on his chair.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Adams was vexed when she saw them all fly off so, for she had not +come with any intention of interrupting or teasing them. She was going +out to ride, and had walked to the window of the hall above, to see if +the horses were at the door, and there she had noticed the children at +their play.</p> + +<p>Bessie stood quietly behind her counter, while the rest ran about after +Maggie. She looked more pale and languid than usual that afternoon, as +she always did when she had been tired or excited. All the soft pink +color which had come into her cheek since she had been at Quam Beach +was quite gone; it was no wonder that grandma frowned and bit her lip +to keep herself from saying sharp things when she looked at her darling +that day.</p> + +<p>Now, Miss Adams always said that she was afraid of nobody, and did not +care what people said of her; but as she watched the delicate little +child, who she knew had been brought by her parents to the sea-shore +that she might gain health and strength, she felt sorry that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> she had +plagued her so, and thought that she would like to make it up with +her. She went into her room, put a large packet of sugar-plums into +her pocket, and then went down stairs. She came up to Bessie just as +the little girl reached the colonel's side, and, standing before her, +said,—</p> + +<p>"Well, Bessie, are you in a better humor yet?"</p> + +<p>Bessie was certainly not pale now. A very bright color had come into +her cheeks, as Miss Adams spoke to her, but she said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Miss Adams, holding out the parcel, "here are some +sugar-plums for you; come, kiss me and make up."</p> + +<p>"I'll forgive you," said Bessie, gravely; "but I don't want the +sugar-plums."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you do!" said Miss Adams; "come and kiss me for them."</p> + +<p>"I don't kiss people for sugar-plums," said Bessie; "and I'm sure I +don't want them."</p> + +<p>"Then come and kiss me without the sugar-plums."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie, "I'll shake hands with you, but I don't kiss people +I don't like."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Miss Adams, "I suppose you keep all your kisses for your +friend, the colonel."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," answered Bessie, "a great many are for papa and mamma, and +the yest of the people I like."</p> + +<p>Miss Adams saw that the colonel was laughing behind his newspaper, and +she was provoked.</p> + +<p>"And you don't like me, eh?" she said, sharply. "Don't you know it's +very rude to tell a lady you don't like her, and wont kiss her?"</p> + +<p>Bessie opened her eyes very wide. "Are you a lady?" she asked, in a +tone of great surprise.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rush did not wish to have Miss Adams go on talking to the child, +for she was afraid straightforward Bessie would say something which +would cause fresh trouble; and she begged Annie Stanton to take her +away; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> Annie would not; she rather enjoyed the prospect, and when +Mrs. Rush would have spoken herself, her husband put out his hand and +stopped her.</p> + +<p>"A lady!" repeated Miss Adams; "what do you take me for? Don't you know +a lady when you see one?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Bessie, innocently. "Mamma's a lady, and grandma +and Aunt Annie and Mrs. Yush, and ever so many others."</p> + +<p>"And I'm not, eh?" said Miss Adams, angrily.</p> + +<p>Bessie did not answer, but peeped up under the colonel's paper, to see +if he would help her; but he did not seem inclined to interfere. His +eyes were fixed on the paper which he held before his face, and his +other hand was busily engaged in smoothing his moustache.</p> + +<p>Miss Adams was very angry. She would not have cared if she had been +alone with Bessie; but she was provoked that she should tell her she +was not a lady, before so many people,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> for two or three gentlemen had +gathered near, and the colonel's amusement vexed her still more.</p> + +<p>"You don't call me a lady, eh?" said Miss Adams again.</p> + +<p>"How can you quarrel with such a baby about nothing, Miss Adams?" said +Mrs. Rush, rising from her seat.</p> + +<p>"She is no baby. She knows very well what she is about, and she has +been put up to this," said Miss Adams, with a furious look at the +colonel. "Who told you I was not a lady?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody; I just knew it myself," said Bessie, drawing closer to the +colonel, as Miss Adams came nearer to her. He threw down his paper, and +put his hand over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You little impertinent!" said Miss Adams, "who made you a judge, I +should like to know? Not a lady, indeed!"</p> + +<p>Poor Bessie! She would not say what she did not think, and she did not +like to say what she did think; but she was tired of the dispute,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> and +thought Miss Adams would have an answer. She gave a long sigh, and +said,—</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you are a kind of a lady; but if you are, it must be a +kitchen or stable lady."</p> + +<p>The gentlemen who were standing by walked quickly away; Mrs. Rush +looked frightened; Annie bent her head down on Gracie's shoulder, and +shook with laughter; and the colonel reached his crutches and, rising, +began to steady himself.</p> + +<p>Miss Adams stood silent a moment, and then began to speak in a voice +almost choked with rage, "You little—" when the colonel interrupted +her.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, madam," he said, "if I remind you that you have no one to +blame for this but yourself. The child is straightforward and honest, +accustomed to speak as she thinks; and if she has said what was better +left unsaid, remember that you forced her to it. I cannot permit her to +be annoyed any farther."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>Helpless as he was, he looked so grand and tall as he stood there with +his eyes fixed sternly on Miss Adams, that she felt abashed. Mrs. Rush +had taken Bessie into her room, Annie had followed with Maggie and +Gracie, and there was no one left to quarrel with but the colonel. Just +at that moment the horses were led up, and she turned away and went +down the steps to mount.</p> + +<p>But Miss Adams had never been so annoyed. She had no mother, or perhaps +she would not have been so rough and unladylike; but she had had many +a reproof from other people. Many a grave, elderly lady, and even some +of her own age, had spoken, some kindly, some severely, upon the wild, +boisterous manner in which she chose to behave. But she had always +laughed at all they said, and went on as before. But that this innocent +little child, to whom she had been so unkind, should see for herself +that she had acted in an improper way, and one that was only fit for +the kitchen or stable, and should tell her so, and show such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> surprise +at hearing her call herself a lady, was very mortifying, and she could +not forget it.</p> + +<p>That evening, when Mr. and Mrs. Bradford came home, they went over +to the hotel for their little girls, and Annie told them all that +had happened that day. After Bessie was undressed, and had said her +prayers, she sat on her mother's lap, and told her of all her troubles, +and then she felt happier.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, I'm afraid I made Miss Adams mad, when I said that, and I +didn't mean to," she said.</p> + +<p>"But why did you say it, Bessie?—it was saucy."</p> + +<p>"Why, I had to, mamma; I didn't want to; but I couldn't <i>break the +truth</i>; she asked me and asked me, so I had to."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Bessie, my Bessie!" said mamma, with a low laugh, and then she +held the little girl very close in her arms, and kissed her. Bessie +nestled her head down on her mamma's bosom, and her mother held her +there, and rocked her long after she was fast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> asleep. Sometimes she +smiled to herself as she sat thinking and watching her child; but +once or twice a bright tear dropped down on Bessie's curls. Mamma +was praying that her little girl might live to grow up and be a good +Christian woman, and that she might always love the truth as she did +now, even when she was older and knew it was not wise to say such +things as she had done to-day.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV">XV.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>UNCLE JOHN.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-200.jpg" alt="A" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">"A</span> LETTER from Uncle John!" said mamma, at the breakfast-table. "I hope +Nellie is no worse. No, she is better; but the doctor has ordered sea +air for her, and they all want to come here, if we can find room for +them, either in this house or in the hotel."</p> + +<p>"The hotel is full, I know," said Mr. Bradford; "I do not think there +is a room to be had. I wonder if Mrs. Jones can do anything for us."</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Mrs. Bradford. "Old Mr. Duncan must be with them +wherever they go, for John is not willing to leave his father alone."</p> + +<p>"We can ask her, at least," said Mr. Bradford.</p> + +<p>So the next time Mrs. Jones came in with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> plate full of hot cakes, +she was asked if she could possibly take in Mr. Duncan's family.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't do it," she said. "If you didn't mind scroudging, I could +give 'em one room; but two, I can't do it. I've plenty of beds, but no +more rooms."</p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie looked very much disappointed. It would be such a +pleasure to have Grandpapa Duncan, and all the rest.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we gave up this little dining-room, and took our meals in the +sitting-room," said Mr. Bradford; "could you put old Mr. Duncan in +here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, well enough," said Mrs. Jones. "Didn't suppose you'd be +willing to do that, York folks is so partickler."</p> + +<p>"We would be willing to do far more than that to accommodate our +friends," said Mrs. Bradford, smiling.</p> + +<p>After a little more talk with Mrs. Jones, it was all settled; so mamma +sat down to write to Uncle John, telling him they might come as soon as +they chose.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Maggie, "what did Mrs. Jones mean by 'scroudging'?"</p> + +<p>"She meant to crowd."</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't take it for one of my words," said Maggie; "I don't think it +sounds nice."</p> + +<p>"No," said mamma, laughing, "I do not think it is a very pretty word; +crowd is much better."</p> + +<p>The children went out in the front porch, greatly pleased with the +idea of having their Riverside friends with them. Dear Grandpapa +Duncan and Aunt Helen, merry Uncle John and little Nellie! Maggie went +hopping about the path, while Bessie sat down on the steps with a very +contented smile. Presently she said,—</p> + +<p>"Maggie, if you was on the grass, what would you be?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Maggie; "just Maggie Stanton Bradford, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"You'd be a grasshopper," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>Maggie stopped hopping to laugh. She thought this a very fine joke; and +when, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> moment after, her brothers came up to the house, she told them +of Bessie's "conundrum." They laughed, too, and then ran off to the +barn.</p> + +<p>Maggie sat down on the step by her sister. "Bessie," she said, +"don't you think Mrs. Jones is very horrid, even if she does make us +gingerbread men?"</p> + +<p>"Not very; I think she is a little horrid."</p> + +<p>"I do," said Maggie; "she talks so; she called papa and mamma 'York +folks.'"</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; something not nice, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"Here comes papa," said Bessie; "we'll ask him. Papa, what did Mrs. +Jones mean by York folks?"</p> + +<p>"She meant people from New York," said Mr. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Then why don't she say that?" said Maggie; "it sounds better."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is her way of talking," answered Mr. Bradford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you think it a nice way, papa?"</p> + +<p>"Not very. I should be sorry to have you speak as she does; but you +must remember that the people with whom she has lived are accustomed to +talk in that way, and she does not know any better."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll teach her," said Maggie. "I'll tell her she doesn't talk +properly, and that we're going to teach her."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, you must do nothing of the kind," said Mr. Bradford, smiling +at the idea of his shy Maggie teaching Mrs. Jones; "she would be very +much offended."</p> + +<p>"Why, papa," said Bessie, "don't she like to do what is yight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, so far as I can tell, she wishes to do right; but probably she +thinks she speaks very well, and she would think it impertinent if two +such little girls were to try to teach her. It is not really wrong for +a person to talk in the way she does, if they know no better. It would +be wrong and vulgar for you to do so, because you have been taught to +speak correctly."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And do we do it?" said Bessie. "Do we speak coryectly?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty well for such little girls," said papa.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Jones laughs at us because she says we use such big words," said +Maggie; "and Mr. Jones does too. They ought not to do it, when they +don't know how to talk themselves. I like grown-up words, and I am +going to say them, if they do laugh."</p> + +<p>"Well, there is no harm in that, if you understand their meaning," said +papa; "but I would not feel unkindly towards Mrs. Jones; she means to +be good and kind to you, and I think she is so; and you must not mind +if her manner is not always very pleasant."</p> + +<p>"But she called you and mamma particular," said Maggie, who was +determined not to be pleased with Mrs. Jones.</p> + +<p>"Well, if Mrs. Jones thinks we are too particular about some things, +we think she is not particular enough; so neither one thinks the other +quite perfect."</p> + +<p>Maggie did not think this mended the matter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> at all. But just then +the nurses came with the younger children, and after their father had +played with them for a while, they all went for their morning walk on +the beach.</p> + +<p>Two days after, the party came from Riverside, and, with some crowding, +were all made comfortable. They almost lived out of doors in this +beautiful weather, and so did not mind some little inconveniences in +the house.</p> + +<p>Uncle John was always ready for a frolic. Now he would hire Mr. Jones' +large farm wagon and two horses, cover the bottom of the wagon with +straw, pack in Aunt Annie and the little Bradfords, and as many other +boys and girls as it would hold, and start off for a long drive. Then +he said they must have a clam-bake, and a clam-bake they had; not only +one, but several. Sometimes Uncle John would invite their friends from +the hotel, and they would have quite a grand affair; but, generally, +they had only their own family, with Mrs. Rush, and the colonel when he +was well enough to come; and the children enjoyed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> smaller parties +much more than they did the larger ones. First, a large, shallow hole +was made in the sand, in which the clams were placed, standing on end; +a fire was built on top of them, and they were left until they were +well roasted, when they were pulled out and eaten with bread and butter.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Jones found how fond the children were of roast clams, she +often had them for their breakfast or supper; but they never tasted so +good as they did when they were cooked in the sand and eaten on the +shore.</p> + +<p>One cool, bright afternoon, Mr. Bradford and Mr. Duncan went down to +the beach for a walk. The children had been out for some time: Maggie +was racing about with the boys; Bessie, sitting on the sand beside a +pool of salt water, looking into it so earnestly that she did not see +her father and uncle till they were quite close to her.</p> + +<p>"What is my little girl looking at?" said her father, sitting down on a +great stone which was near.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Such an ugly thing!" said Bessie.</p> + +<p>Papa leaned forward and looked into the pool, and there he saw the +thing Bessie thought so ugly. It was a small salt-water crab which had +been left there by the tide. He was very black and had long, sprawling +legs, spreading out in every direction. He lay quite still in the +bottom of the pool, with his great eyes staring straight forward, +and did not seem to be in the least disturbed by the presence of his +visitors.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose he is thinking about, Bessie?" said Uncle John.</p> + +<p>"I guess he thinks he looks pretty nasty," said Bessie; "I do."</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said her father, "it seems to me that you and Maggie say +'nasty' very often. I do not think it is at all a pretty word for +little girls to use."</p> + +<p>"Then I wont say it," said Bessie; "but when a thing looks—looks +<i>that</i> way, what shall I say?"</p> + +<p>"You might say ugly," said Mr. Bradford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, papa, sometimes a thing looks ugly, and not nasty. I think that +animal looks ugly and nasty too."</p> + +<p>"Tell us of something that is ugly, but not nasty," said Uncle John.</p> + +<p>Bessie looked very hard at her uncle. Now Mr. Duncan was not at all a +handsome man. He had a pleasant, merry, good-natured face, but he was +certainly no beauty. Bessie looked at him, and he looked back at her, +with his eyes twinkling, and the corners of his mouth twitching with a +smile, for he thought he knew what was coming.</p> + +<p>"Well?" he said, when Bessie did not speak for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Uncle John," said she, very gravely, "I think you are ugly, but I do +not think you are nasty, a bit."</p> + +<p>Uncle John laughed as if he thought this a capital joke; and Mr. +Bradford smiled as he said, "It don't do to ask Bessie questions to +which you do not want a straightforward answer."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I want to know about 'nasty,'" said Bessie. "Is it saying bad +grammar, like Mrs. Jones, to say it?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," said Mr. Bradford, "and you may say it when a thing +is really nasty; but I think you often use it when there is no need. +Perhaps this little fellow does look nasty as well as ugly; but the +other day I heard Maggie say that Mamie Stone was a nasty, cross child. +Now, Mamie may be cross,—I dare say she often is,—but she certainly +is not nasty, for she is always neat and clean. And this morning I +heard you say that you did not want 'that nasty bread and milk.' The +bread and milk was quite good and sweet, and not at all nasty; but you +called it so because you did not fancy it."</p> + +<p>"Then did I tell a wicked story?" asked Bessie, looking sober at the +thought of having said what was not true.</p> + +<p>"No," said papa, "you did not tell a wicked story, for you did not mean +to say that which was not so. But it is wrong to fall into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> the habit +of using words which seem to say so much more than we mean. But do not +look so grave about it, my darling; you did not intend to do anything +that was not right, I am sure."—</p> + +<p>"But, papa," said Bessie, "why did God make ugly things?"</p> + +<p>"Because he thought it best, Bessie. He made everything in the way +which best fitted it for the purpose for which he intended it. This +little crab lives under the sea, where he has a great many enemies, and +where he has to find his food. With these round, staring eyes which +stand out so far from his head, he can look in every direction and see +if any danger is near, or if there is anything which may do for him +to eat. With these long, awkward legs, he can scamper out of the way, +and with those sharp claws, he fights, for he is a quarrelsome little +fellow. He can give a good pinch with them, and you had better not put +your fingers too near them. Under that hard, black shell, he has a +tender body, which would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> be hurt by the rocks and stones among which +he lives, if he had not something to protect it."</p> + +<p>Uncle John took up a stick. "Here, Johnny Crab," he said, "let us see +how you can fight;" and he put the stick in the water and stirred up +the crab. The moment he was touched, the crab began to move all his +legs, and to scuttle round the pool as if he wanted to get out. But +Uncle John did not mean to let him come out until he had shown Bessie +what a nip he could give with those pincers of his. He pushed him back, +and put the stick close to one of his larger claws. The crab took hold +of it, as if he were very angry, and such a pinch as he gave it!</p> + +<p>"See there, Bessie," said Uncle John, "are you not glad it is not one +of your little fingers he has hold of?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie, climbing on her father's knee as the crab tried to +get out. "I didn't know he could pinch like that."</p> + +<p>"Or you would not have sat so quietly watching him, eh, Bessie?" said +Uncle John.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> "Well, romp,"—to Maggie, as she rushed up to them, rosy +and out of breath, and jumping upon the rock behind him, threw both +arms around his neck,—"well, romp, here is a gentleman who wishes to +make your acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle John, what a horrid, nasty thing! What is it?" said Maggie, +as her uncle pushed back the crab, which was still trying to get out of +the pool.</p> + +<p>"There it goes again," said Uncle John,—"horrid, nasty thing! Poor +little crab!"</p> + +<p>"Maggie," said Bessie, "we must not say 'nasty.' Papa says it means +what we do not mean, and it's unproper. Tell her about it, papa."</p> + +<p>"No," said papa, "we will not have another lecture now. By and by you +may tell her. I think you can remember all I have said."</p> + +<p>"Now see, Maggie," said Uncle John, "you have hurt the crab's feelings +so that he is in a great hurry to run off home. I am sure his mother +thinks him a very handsome fellow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> and he wants to go and tell her how +he went on his travels and met a monster who had the bad taste to call +him 'a horrid, nasty thing.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Bessie, laughing, "what a funny Uncle John you are! But I +should think it would hurt the crab's feelings a great deal more to be +poked with a stick, and not to be let to go home when he wants to. I +don't believe he knows what Maggie says."</p> + +<p>"I think you are about right, Bessie; I guess we must let him go."</p> + +<p>So the next time the crab tried to come out of the pool, Uncle John put +the stick by his claw, and when he took hold of it, lifted him out of +the water and laid him on the sand. Away the crab scampered as fast as +his long legs could carry him, moving in a curious side-long fashion, +which amused the children very much. They followed him as near to the +water's edge as they were allowed to go, and then ran back to their +father.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI">XVI.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE BIRTHDAY PRESENTS.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-215.jpg" alt="T" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">T</span>HE tenth of August was Maggie's birthday. She would be seven years +old, and on that day she was to have a party. At first, Mrs. Bradford +had intended to have only twenty little children at this party, but +there seemed some good reason for inviting this one and that one, until +it was found that there were about thirty to come.</p> + +<p>Maggie begged that she might print her own invitations on some of the +paper which Grandpapa Duncan had sent. Mamma said she might try, but +she thought Maggie would be tired before she was half through, and +she was right. By the time Maggie had printed four notes, her little +fingers were cramped, and she had to ask her mother to write the rest +for her. Mrs. Bradford did so, putting Maggie's own words on Maggie's +and Bessie's own stamped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> paper. Maggie said this was Bessie's party +just as much as hers, and the invitations must come from her too. So +they were written in this way.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"Please to have the pleasure of coming to have a party with us, +on Tuesday afternoon, at four o'clock.</p> + +<p class="author">"<span class="smcap">Maggie and Bessie.</span>"</p></div> + +<p>Among those which Maggie had printed herself, was one to Colonel and +Mrs. Rush.</p> + +<p>"What do you send them an invitation for?" said Fred. "They wont come. +The colonel can't walk so far, and Mrs. Rush wont leave him."</p> + +<p>"Then they can send us a <i>refuse</i>," said Maggie. "I know the colonel +can't come, but maybe Mrs. Rush will for a little while. We're going to +ask them, anyhow. They'll think it a great discompliment if we don't."</p> + +<p>Such busy little girls as they were on the day before the birthday! The +dolls had to be all dressed in their best, and the dolls' tea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> things +washed about a dozen times in the course of the morning. Then Bessie +had a birthday present for Maggie. She had been saving all her money +for some time to buy it. Papa had bought it for her, and brought it +from town the night before. Every half-hour or so, Bessie had to run +and peep at it, to be sure it was all safe, taking great care that +Maggie did not see.</p> + +<p>They went to bed early, that, as Maggie said, "to-morrow might come +soon," but they lay awake laughing and talking until nurse told them it +was long past their usual bedtime, and they must go right to sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning Bessie was the first to wake. She knew by the light +that it was very early, not time to get up. She looked at her sister, +but Maggie showed no signs of waking.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is Maggie's birthday!" said the little girl to herself. "My +dear Maggie! I wish she would wake up, so I could kiss her and wish her +a happy birthday. 'Many happy yeturns,' that's what people say when +other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> people have birthdays. I'll say it to Maggie when she wakes up. +But now I'll go to sleep again for a little while."</p> + +<p>Bessie turned over for another nap, when her eye was caught by +something on the foot of the bed. She raised her head, then sat +upright. No more thought of sleep for Bessie. She looked one moment, +then laid her hand upon her sleeping sister.</p> + +<p>"Maggie, dear Maggie, wake up! Just see what somebody brought here!"</p> + +<p>Maggie stirred, and sleepily rubbed her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Wake up wide, Maggie! Only look! Did you ever see such a thing?"</p> + +<p>Maggie opened her eyes, and sat up beside Bessie. On the foot of the +bed—one on Maggie's side, one on Bessie's—were two boxes. On each +sat a large doll—and such dolls! They had beautiful faces, waxen +hands and feet, and what Bessie called "live hair, yeal live hair." +They were dressed in little white night-gowns, and sat there before +the surprised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> and delighted children as if they had themselves just +wakened from sleep. Maggie threw off the bed-covers, scrambled down to +the foot of the bed, and seized the doll nearest to her.</p> + +<p>"Who did it, Bessie?" she said.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Bessie. "Mamma, I guess. I think they're for your +birthday."</p> + +<p>"Why, so I s'pose it is!" said Maggie. "Why don't you come and take +yours, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"But it is not my birthday," said Bessie, creeping down to where her +sister sat. "I don't believe somebody gave me one; but you will let me +play with one; wont you, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Bessie, if anybody did be so foolish as to give me two such beautiful +dolls, do you think I'd keep them both myself, and not give you one? +Indeed, I wouldn't. And even if they only gave me one, I'd let it be +half yours, Bessie."</p> + +<p>Bessie put her arm about her sister's neck<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> and kissed her, and then +took up the other doll.</p> + +<p>"What cunning little ni'-gowns!" she said. "I wonder if they have any +day clo's."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they're in these boxes," said Maggie. "I'm going to look. Gracie +Howard's aunt did a very unkind, selfish thing. She gave her a great +big doll with not a thing to put on it. I don't believe anybody would +do so to us. Oh, no! here's lots and lots of clo's! Pull off your cover +quick, Bessie. Oh, I am so very, very pleased! I know mamma did it. I +don't believe anybody else would be so kind. See, there's a white frock +and a silk frock and a muslin one, and—oh! goody, goody!—a sweet +little sack and a round hat, and petticoats and drawers and everything! +Why don't you look at yours, Bessie, and see if they are just the same?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie; "they are, and here's shoes and stockings, and oh! +such a cunning parasol, and here's—oh, Maggie, here's the dear little +cap that I saw in Mrs. Yush's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> drawer the day the colonel sent me to +find his knife! Why, she must have done it!"</p> + +<p>"And look here, Bessie, at this dear little petticoat all 'broidered. +That's the very pattern we saw Aunt Annie working the day that +'bomnable Miss Adams pulled your hair. Isn't it pretty?"</p> + +<p>"And see, Maggie! Mrs. Yush was sewing on a piece of silk just like +this dear little dress, and she wouldn't tell us what it was. I do +believe she did it, and Aunt Annie and maybe the colonel."</p> + +<p>"How could the colonel make dolls' clothes?" said Maggie. "Men can't +sew."</p> + +<p>"Soldier men can," said Bessie. "Don't you yemember how Colonel Yush +told us he had to sew on his buttons? But I did not mean he made +the dolly's clothes, only maybe he gave us the dolls, and Mrs. Yush +and Aunt Annie made their things. Oh, here's another ni'-gown,—two +ni'-gowns!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie. "I was counting, and there's two ni'-gowns, and two +chemise,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> and two everything, except only dresses, and there's four of +those, and they're all marked like our things,—'Bessie,' for yours, +and 'Maggie' for mine. Oh, what a happy birthday! Bessie, I'm so glad +you've got a doll too! Oh, I'm so very gratified!"</p> + +<p>"I have something nice for you too, Maggie. Please give me my slippers, +and I'll go and get it."</p> + +<p>Maggie leaned over the side of the trundle-bed, to reach her sister's +slippers, but what she saw there quite made her forget them. She gave a +little scream of pleasure, and began hugging up her knees and rolling +about the bed squealing with delight. Bessie crept to the edge of the +bed, and peeped over. There stood two little perambulators, just of the +right size for the new dolls, and in each, lay neatly folded, a tiny +affghan.</p> + +<p>When this new excitement was over, Bessie put on her slippers and went +for her present for Maggie. This was a little brown morocco work-bag, +lined with blue silk, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> fitted up with scissors, thimble, bodkin, +and several other things. She gave it to her sister saying, "I make +you many happy yeturns, dear Maggie." Then Maggie had another fit of +rolling, tumbling, and screaming, until nurse, who was watching the +children from her bed, though they did not know it, could stand it no +longer, but broke into a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>"Now, nursey," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Is it a pig or a puppy we have got here for a birthday?" said nurse. +"Sure, it is a happy one I wish you, my pet, and many of 'em, and may +you never want for nothing more than you do now. Now don't you make +such a noise there, and wake Franky. I s'pose I may just as well get up +and wash and dress you, for there'll be no more sleep, I'm thinking."</p> + +<p>"Who gave us these dolls and all these things, nursey?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, then, Bessie was just right," said nurse. "Colonel Rush gave +you the dolls,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> and his wife, with Miss Annie, made the clothes; and +did you ever see dolls that had such a fittin' out? It was your mamma +that bought the wagons and made the blankets."</p> + +<p>"We didn't see her," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"No, but she did them when you were out or asleep; but you see Mrs. +Rush and Miss Annie had to be working all the time on the clothes, lest +they wouldn't be done; and you're round there so much, they had to let +you see."</p> + +<p>"But we never knew," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>The children could scarcely keep still long enough to let nurse bathe +and dress them; but at last it was done, and then the dolls were +dressed, and the rest of the clothes put nicely away in the boxes. As +soon as baby awoke, they were off to their mamma's room, scrambling +up on the bed to show their treasures, and talking as fast as their +tongues could go.</p> + +<p>"I was so very surprised, mamma!" said Maggie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You were not; were you, Bessie?" said mamma, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I was."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see or hear something last night?" asked mamma.</p> + +<p>Bessie looked at her mother for a minute, and then exclaimed, "Oh, +yes, I do yemember, now! Maggie, last night I woke up and somebody was +laughing, and I thought it was Aunt Annie; but when I opened my eyes, +only mamma was there, and when I asked her where Aunt Annie was, she +said, 'Go to sleep; you shall see Aunt Annie in the morning.' Mamma, +I thought you came to kiss us, as you do every night before you go to +bed. I suppose you put the dolls there that time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"That's what I call being <i>mysteyious</i>," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Do you like people to be mysterious, Bessie?" asked her father, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"About dolls, I do, papa; but about some things, I don't."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"When they're going to say what they don't want me to hear, and they +send me out of the yoom. I don't like that way of being mysteyious at +all. It hurts children's feelings very much to be sent out of the yoom."</p> + +<p>"What are these magnificent young ladies to be named?" asked Uncle +John, at the breakfast-table.</p> + +<p>"Mine is to be Bessie Margaret Marion," said Maggie,—"after mamma and +Bessie and Mrs. Rush."</p> + +<p>"Why, all your dolls are named Bessie," said Harry; "there are big +Bessie and little Bessie and middling Bessie."</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Maggie; "this is going to be Bessie too. She will +have two other names, so it will be very nice. Besides, I am not going +to play with middling Bessie again. The paint is all off her cheeks, +and Franky smashed her nose in, and yesterday I picked out her eyes, to +see what made them open and shut, so she is not very pretty any more. I +am going to let Susie have her."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And what is yours to be, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Margayet Colonel Hoyace Yush Byadford," said Bessie, trying very hard +to pronounce her r's.</p> + +<p>The boys shouted and even the grown people laughed.</p> + +<p>"That is a regular boy's name,—all except the Margaret," said Fred, +"and the Colonel is no name at all."</p> + +<p>"It is," said Bessie,—"it is my own dear soldier's, and it is going to +be my dolly's. You're bad to laugh at it, Fred."</p> + +<p>"Do not be vexed, my little girl," said her father. "Colonel is not a +name; it is only a title given to a man because he commands a regiment +of soldiers. Now young ladies do not command regiments, and Horace is +a man's name. You may call your doll what you please, but suppose you +were to name her Horatia; would not that sound better?"</p> + +<p>But Bessie held fast to the Horace; it was her soldier's name, and she +was quite determined to give her doll the same.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>After breakfast, Mrs. Bradford called Maggie up stairs for a while. +"Maggie, dear," she said, when she had taken the little girl up into +her lap, "have you remembered this morning that our Father in heaven +has brought you to the beginning of another year of your life?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, mamma," said Maggie; "I have done nothing but think it was +my birthday ever since I woke up. You know I could not forget it when +every one was so kind and gave me such lots and lots of lovely things."</p> + +<p>"But have you remembered to thank God for letting you see another +birthday, and for giving you all these kind friends, and so many other +blessings? And have you asked him to make you wiser and better each +year, as you grow older?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I did not think much about it that way," said Maggie, +coloring; "but I <i>am</i> very thankful. I know I have a great many +blessings. I have you and papa and Bessie, and my new doll, and all +the rest of the family.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> But I want to know one thing, mamma. Isn't it +wrong to pray to God about dolls? Bessie said it wasn't, but I thought +it must be."</p> + +<p>"How to pray about them, dear?"</p> + +<p>"To thank God because he made Colonel Rush think of giving us such +beautiful ones. Bessie said we ought to, but I thought God would not +care to hear about such little things as that. Bessie said we asked +every day for our daily bread; and dolls were a great deal better +blessing than bread, so we ought to thank him. But I thought he was +such a great God, maybe he would be offended if I thanked him for such +a little thing as a doll."</p> + +<p>"We should thank him for every blessing, dear, great and small. Though +we deserve nothing at his hands, all that we have comes from his love +and mercy; and these are so great that even our smallest wants are +not beneath his notice. He knows all our wishes and feelings,—every +thought, whether spoken or not; and if you feel grateful to him +because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> he put it into the hearts of your kind friends to give you +this pretty present, he knew the thought, and was pleased that you +should feel so. But never fear to thank him for any mercy, however +small. Never fear to go to him in any trouble or happiness. He is +always ready to listen to the simplest prayer from the youngest child. +Shall we thank him now for all the gifts and mercies you have received +to-day, and for the care which he has taken of you during the past +year?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mamma."</p> + +<p>"And, Maggie, I think you have one especial blessing to be grateful +for."</p> + +<p>"What, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"That you have been able, with God's help, to do so much towards +conquering a very troublesome fault."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, mamma! and I do think God helped me to do that, for I asked +him every night and morning, since I meddled with papa's inkstand. I +mean, when I said, 'God bless,' when I came to 'make me a good little +girl,' I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> used to say quite quick and softly to myself, 'and careful +too.'"</p> + +<p>"That was right, dear," said Mrs. Bradford, tenderly smoothing Maggie's +curls, and kissing her forehead; "you see he did hear that little +prayer, and help you in what you were trying to do."</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Bradford knelt down with Maggie, and thanked God that he had +spared her child's life, and given her so many blessings, and prayed +that each year, as she grew older, she might be better and wiser, and +live more to his glory and praise.</p> + +<p>"I am not quite careful yet, mamma," said Maggie, when they rose from +their knees. "You know the other day, when nurse told me to bring in +Bessie's best hat, I forgot and left it out on the grass, and the rain +spoiled it; but I mean to try more and more, and maybe, when I am +eight, I will be as careful as Bessie."</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII">XVII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-232.jpg" alt="M" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">M</span>AGGIE said this was the very best birthday she had ever had. The whole +day seemed one long pleasure. She and Bessie walked over, with their +father and Uncle John, to see Colonel and Mrs. Rush, leaving mamma, +Aunt Helen, and Aunt Annie all helping Mrs. Jones to prepare for the +evening. There were cakes and ice cream and jelly to make, for such +things could not be bought here in the country as they could in town.</p> + +<p>The new dolls went too, seated in the perambulators and snugly tucked +in with the affghans, though it was such a warm day that when they +reached the hotel, Bessie said she was "yoasted."</p> + +<p>"So this is a pleasant birthday; is it, Maggie?" said the colonel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" said Maggie; "I wish every day was my birthday or Bessie's."</p> + +<p>"Then in sixty days you would be old ladies. How would you like that?" +said Uncle John.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit," answered Maggie; "old ladies don't have half so much fun +as children."</p> + +<p>"So you will be content with one birthday in a year?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle John."</p> + +<p>"And you liked all your presents, Maggie?" asked the colonel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, except only one."</p> + +<p>"And what was that?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Jones gave me a white <i>Canting</i> flannel rabbit, with black silk +for its nose, and red beads for its eyes. Idea of it! just as if I was +a little girl, and I am seven! I told nurse if baby wanted it, she +could have it; and I didn't care if she did put it in her mouth. Nurse +said I was ungrateful; but I am not going to be grateful for such a +thing as that."</p> + +<p>The colonel and Uncle John seemed very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> much amused when Maggie said +this, but her father looked rather grave, though he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Yush," said Bessie, "you didn't send me a yefuse."</p> + +<p>"A what?"</p> + +<p>"A yefuse to our party note."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I understand. Did you want me to refuse?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, we didn't <i>want</i> you to; but then we knew you couldn't come, +because you are so lame."</p> + +<p>"Will it do if you get an answer to-night?" said the colonel.</p> + +<p>Bessie said that would do very well.</p> + +<p>When they were going home, Mr. Bradford fell a little behind the rest, +and called Maggie to him. "Maggie, dear," he said, "I do not want to +find fault with my little girl on her birthday, but I do not think you +feel very pleasantly towards Mrs. Jones."</p> + +<p>"No, papa, I do not; I can't bear her; and the make-believe rabbit too! +If you were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> seven, papa, and some one gave you such a thing, would you +like it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not; but Mrs. Jones is a poor woman, and she gave you the best +she had, thinking to please you."</p> + +<p>"Papa, it makes Mrs. Jones very mad to call her poor. The other day I +asked her why she didn't put pretty white frocks, like our baby's and +Nellie's, on Susie. Bessie said she supposed she was too poor. Mrs. +Jones was as cross as anything, and said she wasn't poor, and Mr. Jones +was as well off as any man this side the country; but she wasn't going +to waste her time doing up white frocks for Susie. She was so mad that +Bessie and I ran away."</p> + +<p>"Then we will not call her poor if she does not like it," said Mr. +Bradford; "but Mrs. Jones is a kind-hearted woman, if she is a little +rough sometimes. She tries very hard to please you. Late last night, I +went into her kitchen to speak to Mr. Jones, and there she sat making +that rabbit, although she had been hard at work all day, trying to +finish her wash,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> so that she might have the whole of to-day to make +cakes and other nice things for your party. Yet this morning when she +brought it to you, you did not look at all pleased, and scarcely said, +'Thank you.'"</p> + +<p>"Ought I to say I was pleased when I was not, papa?"</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not; but you should have been pleased, because she meant +to be kind, even if you did not like the thing that she brought. It +was not like a lady, it was not like a Christian, to be so ungracious; +it was not doing as you would be done by. Last week you hemmed a +handkerchief for Grandpapa Duncan. Now you know yourself that, although +you took a great deal of pains, the hem was rather crooked and some +of the stitches quite long, yet grandpapa was more pleased with that +one than with the whole dozen which Aunt Helen hemmed, and which were +beautifully done, because he knew that you had done the best you could, +and that it was a great effort for you. It was not the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> work, but the +wish to do something for him, that pleased him. Now, if grandpa had +frowned, and looked at the handkerchief as if it were scarcely worth +notice, and grumbled something that hardly sounded like 'Thank you,' +how would you have felt?"</p> + +<p>"I'd have cried," said Maggie, "and wished I hadn't done it for him."</p> + +<p>"Suppose he had told other people that he didn't like work done in that +way, and was not going to be grateful for it?"</p> + +<p>Maggie hung her head, and looked ashamed. She saw now how unkindly she +had felt and acted towards Mrs. Jones.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford went on: "I think Mrs. Jones was hurt this morning, +Maggie. Now, I am sure you did not mean to vex her; did you?"</p> + +<p>"No, papa, indeed, I did not. What can I do? I don't think I ought to +tell Mrs. Jones that I think the rabbit is pretty when I don't."</p> + +<p>"No, of course you must not. Truth before all things. But you might +play with it a little, and not put it out of sight, as you did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +this morning. Perhaps, too, you may find a chance to thank her in a +pleasanter way than you did before."</p> + +<p>"I'll make a chance," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>When they reached the house, Maggie ran up to the nursery. "Nursey," +she said, "where is my rabbit; did baby have it?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," said nurse; "I wasn't going to give it to baby, to hurt +Mrs. Jones' feelings,—not while we're here, at least. When we go +to town, then my pet may have it, if you don't want it; and a nice +plaything it will make for her then. It's up there on the mantel-shelf."</p> + +<p>"Please give it to me," said Maggie; "I'm going to cure Mrs. Jones' +feelings."</p> + +<p>Nurse handed it to her, and she ran down stairs with it. She took her +doll out of the little wagon, put the rabbit in its place, and tucked +the affghan all round it. Then she ran into the kitchen, pulling the +wagon after her.</p> + +<p>"Now, come," said Mrs. Jones, the moment she saw her, "I don't want any +children here! I've got my hands full; just be off."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, but, Mrs. Jones," said Maggie, a little frightened, "I only want +you to look at my rabbit taking a ride in the wagon. Don't he look +cunning? I think you were very kind to make him for me."</p> + +<p>"Well, do you know?" said Mrs. Jones. "I declare I thought you didn't +care nothing about it,—and me sitting up late last night to make it. +I was a little put out when you seemed to take it so cool like, and I +thought you were stuck up with all the handsome presents you'd been +getting. That wasn't nothing alongside of them, to be sure; but it was +the best I could do."</p> + +<p>"And you were very kind to make it for me, Mrs. Jones. I am very much +obliged to you. No, Susie, you can't have it. Maybe you'd make it +dirty, and I'm going to keep it till I'm thirteen; then I'll let baby +have it, when she's big enough to take care of it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it will be in the ash-barrel long before that," said Mrs. Jones. +"Here's a cake for you and one for Bessie."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, thank you," said Maggie; "mamma said we musn't eat any cakes or +candies this morning, because we'll want some to-night."</p> + +<p>"That's a good girl to mind so nice," said Mrs. Jones; "and your ma's a +real lady, and she's bringing you up to be ladies too."</p> + +<p>Maggie ran off to the parlor, glad that she had made friends with Mrs. +Jones. She found her mother and Aunt Helen and Aunt Annie all making +mottoes. They had sheets of bright-colored tissue paper, which they +cut into small squares, fringed the ends with sharp scissors, and then +rolled up a sugar-plum in each. They allowed Maggie and Bessie to help, +by handing the sugar-plums, and the little girls thought it a very +pleasant business. And once in a while mamma popped a sugar-plum into +one of the two little mouths, instead of wrapping it in the paper; and +this they thought a capital plan. Then came a grand frolic in the barn +with father and Uncle John and the boys, Tom and Walter being of the +party, until Mrs. Bradford<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> called them in, and said Bessie must rest +a while, or she would be quite tired out before afternoon. So, taking +Bessie on his knee, Grandpapa Duncan read to them out of a new book he +had given Maggie that morning. After the early dinner, the dolls, old +and new, had to be dressed, and then they were dressed themselves, and +ready for their little visitors.</p> + +<p>The piazza and small garden and barn seemed fairly swarming with +children that afternoon. And such happy children too! Every one was +good-natured, ready to please and to be pleased. And, indeed, they +would have been very ungrateful if they had not been; for a great deal +of pains was taken to amuse and make them happy. Even Mamie Stone was +not heard to fret once.</p> + +<p>"I do wish I had an Uncle John!" said Mamie, as she sat down to rest +on the low porch step, with Bessie and one or two more of the smaller +children, and watched Mr. Duncan, as he arranged the others for some +new game, keeping them laughing all the time with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> merry jokes,—"I +do wish I had an Uncle John!"</p> + +<p>"You have an Uncle Robert," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! he's no good," said Mamie. "He's not nice and kind and funny, +like your Uncle John. He's as cross as anything, and he wont let +us make a bit of noise when he's in the room. He says children are +pests; and when papa laughed, and asked him if he said that because he +remembered what a pest he was when he was a child, he looked mad, and +said no; children were better behaved when he was a boy."</p> + +<p>"I don't think he's very better behaved to talk so," said Bessie, +gravely.</p> + +<p>"No, he's not," said Mamie. "He's awful. He's not a bit like Mr. +Duncan. And I like your Aunt Annie too. She plays so nice, just as if +she were a little girl herself; and she helps everybody if they don't +know how, or fall down, or anything."</p> + +<p>"Are we not having a real nice time, Bessie?" asked Gracie Howard.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie; "but I do wish my soldier and Mrs. Yush could come +to our party."</p> + +<p>"What makes you care so much about Colonel Rush?" asked Gracie. "He's +such a big man."</p> + +<p>"He isn't any bigger than my father," said Bessie; "and I love my +father dearly, dearly. We can love people just as much if they are big."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't mean that," said Gracie; "I meant he's so old. You'd have +to love your father, even if you didn't want to, because he is your +father, and he takes care of you. But Colonel Rush isn't anything of +yours."</p> + +<p>"He is," said Bessie; "he is my own soldier, and my great, great +friend; and he loves me too."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Gracie. "Mamma says it is strange to see a grown man +so fond of a little child who doesn't belong to him."</p> + +<p>"I think it is very good of him to love me so much," said Bessie, "and +I do wish he was here. I want him very much."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And so do I," said Maggie, who had come to see why Bessie was not +playing; "but we can't have him, 'cause he can't walk up this bank, +and the carriage can't come here, either. I just wish there wasn't any +bank."</p> + +<p>"Why, what is the matter?" asked Uncle John. "Here is the queen of the +day looking as if her cup of happiness was not quite full. What is it, +Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"We want the colonel," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Why, you disconsolate little monkey! Are there not enough grown people +here already, making children of themselves for your amusement, but you +must want the colonel too? If he was here, he could not play with you, +poor fellow!"</p> + +<p>"He could sit still and look at us," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"And we could look at him," said Bessie. "We are very fond of him, +Uncle John."</p> + +<p>"I know you are," said Uncle John, "and so you should be, for he is +very fond of you, and does enough to please you. But I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> very fond of +you too, and I am going to make a fox of myself, to please you. So all +hands must come for a game of fox and chickens before supper."</p> + +<p>Away they all went to join the game. Uncle John was the fox, and Mrs. +Bradford and Aunt Annie the hens, and Aunt Helen and papa were chickens +with the little ones; while grandpa and grandma and Mrs. Jones sat on +the piazza, each with a baby on her knee. The fox was such a nimble +fellow, the mother hens had hard work to keep their broods together, +and had to send them scattering home very often. It was a grand frolic, +and the grown people enjoyed it almost as much as the children.</p> + +<p>Even Toby seemed to forget himself for a moment or two; and once, when +the chickens were all flying over the grass, screaming and laughing, +he sprang up from his post on the porch, where he had been quietly +watching them, and came bounding down among them with a joyous bark, +and seized hold of the fox<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> by the coat tails, just as he pounced on +Harry and Walter, as if he thought they had need of his help. How the +children laughed! But after that, Toby seemed to be quite ashamed of +himself, and walked back to his old seat with the most solemn air +possible, as if he meant to say,—</p> + +<p>"If you thought it was this respectable dog who was playing with you +just now, you were mistaken. It must have been some foolish little +puppy, who did not know any better." And not even Bessie could coax him +to play any more.</p> + +<p>But at last fox, hen, and chickens were all called to supper, and went +in together as peaceably as possible. The children were all placed +round the room, some of them on the drollest kind of seats, which Mr. +Jones had contrived for the occasion. Almost all of them were so low +that every child could hold its plate on its lap, for there was not +half room enough round the table.</p> + +<p>They were scarcely arranged when a curious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> sound was heard outside, +like a tapping on the piazza.</p> + +<p>"That sounds just like my soldier's crutches," said Bessie. "But then +it couldn't be, because he never could get up the bank."</p> + +<p>But it seemed that the colonel could get up the bank, for as Bessie +said this, she turned, and there he stood at the door, with Mrs. Rush +at his side, both looking very smiling.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is, it is!" said Bessie, her whole face full of delight. "Oh, +Maggie, he did come! he did get up! Oh, I'm <i>perferly</i> glad."</p> + +<p>And indeed she seemed so. It was pretty to see her as she stood by the +colonel, looking up at him with her eyes so full of love and pleasure, +and a bright color in her cheeks; while Maggie, almost as much +delighted, ran to the heavy arm-chair in which Grandpapa Duncan usually +sat, and began tugging and shoving at it with all her might.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to do, Maggie?" asked Tom Norris, as he saw her red +in the face, and all out of breath.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I want to take it to the door, so that he need not walk another step. +Please help me, Tom," said Maggie, looking at the colonel who stood +leaning on his crutches, and shaking hands with all the friends who +were so glad to see him.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, little woman," said he; "I shall reach the chair with far +less trouble than you can bring it to me, and I can go to it quite +well. I could not have come up this bank of yours, if I had not been +'nice and spry,' as Mrs. Jones says. I told you you should have the +answer to your invitation to-night; did I not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; but why didn't you tell us you were coming?"</p> + +<p>"Because I did not know myself that I should be able to when the +time came; and I was vain enough to think you and Bessie would be +disappointed if I promised and did not come after all. I knew I should +be disappointed myself; so I thought I would say nothing till I was on +the spot. Would you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> have liked it better if I had sent you a 'refuse'?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" said Maggie. "How can you talk so?"</p> + +<p>"You gave us the best answer in the world," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>Certainly the colonel had no reason to think that all, both old and +young, were not glad to see him. As for Maggie, she could not rest +until she had done something for him. As soon as she had seen him +seated in the great chair, she rushed off, and was presently heard +coming down stairs with something thump, thumping after her, and in +a moment there she was at the door dragging two pillows, one in each +hand. These she insisted on squeezing behind the colonel's back, and +though he would have been more comfortable without them, he allowed her +to do it, as she had taken so much trouble to bring them, and smiled +and thanked her; so she was quite sure she had made him perfectly easy. +Neither she nor Bessie would eat anything till he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> had taken or refused +everything that was on the table, and he said he was fairly in the way +to be killed with kindness.</p> + +<p>After supper Fred whispered to his father, and receiving his +permission, proposed "three cheers for Bessie's soldier, Colonel Rush." +The three cheers were given with a hearty good-will, and the room rang +again and again.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for all our soldiers," said Harry; and these were given.</p> + +<p>Then Walter Stone cried, "Three cheers for our Maggie, the queen of +the day," and again all the boys and girls shouted at the top of their +voices.</p> + +<p>But Maggie did not like this at all. She hung her head, and colored all +over face, neck, and shoulders, then calling out in a vexed, distressed +tone, "I don't care," ran to her mother, and buried her face in her lap.</p> + +<p>"Poor Maggie! That was almost too much, was it not?" said her mother, +as she lifted her up and seated her on her knee.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, it was dreadful!" said Maggie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> almost crying, and hiding +her face on her mother's shoulder. "How could they?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, dear; they only did it out of compliment to you, and they +thought you would be pleased."</p> + +<p>"But I am not, mamma. I would rather have a discompliment."</p> + +<p>Maggie's trouble was forgotten when Uncle John jumped up and began a +droll speech, which made all the children laugh, and in a few moments +she was as merry as ever again.</p> + +<p>"So this has been a happy day?" said the colonel, looking down at +Bessie, who was sitting close beside him, as she had done ever since he +came in.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Bessie; "it is the best birthday we have ever had."</p> + +<p>"We?" said the colonel. "It is not your birthday, too; is it?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie; "but that's no difference. I like Maggie's birthday +just as much as mine, only I like hers better, 'cause I can give her a +present."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Does she not give you a present on your birthday?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I like to give her one better than to have her give me one; +and it was such a great part of the happiness 'cause you came to-night."</p> + +<p>"Bless your loving little heart!" said the colonel, looking very much +pleased.</p> + +<p>"You know, even if you did not give me that beautiful doll, it would be +'most the same; for Maggie would let me call hers half mine; but I am +very glad you did give it to me. Oh, I'm <i>very</i> satisfied of this day."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't this a nice day?" Bessie said to her sister, when their little +friends were gone, and they were snug in bed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, lovely," said Maggie, "only except the boys hollering about me. I +never heard of such a thing,—to go and holler about a girl, and make +her feel all red! I think, if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't know what +to do 'cause of my gladness."</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII">XVIII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE ADVENTURE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-253.jpg" alt="T" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">T</span>HERE was a dreadful storm that week, which lasted several days, and +did a great deal of damage along the coast. The sky was black and angry +with dark, heavy clouds. The great waves of the ocean rolled up on the +beach with a loud, deafening roar, the house rocked with the terrible +wind, and the rain poured in such torrents that Maggie asked her mother +if she did not think "the windows of heaven were opened," and there was +to be another flood.</p> + +<p>"Maggie," said her mother, "when Noah came out of the ark, what was the +first thing he did?"</p> + +<p>Maggie thought a moment, and then said, "Built an altar and made a +sacrifice."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and what did the Lord say to him?"</p> + +<p>"Well done, good and faithful servant,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> said Maggie, who, provided she +had an answer, was not always particular it was the right one.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bradford smiled a little.</p> + +<p>"We are not told the Lord said that," she answered, "though he was +doubtless pleased that Noah's first act should have been one of praise +and thanksgiving. Indeed, the Bible tells us as much. But what did he +place in the clouds for Noah to see?"</p> + +<p>"A rainbow," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"What did he tell Noah it should be?"</p> + +<p>"I forgot that," said Maggie; "he said it should be a sign that the +world should never be drowned again."</p> + +<p>"Yes; the Lord told Noah he would make a covenant with him 'that the +waters should no more become a flood to destroy the earth;' and he made +the rainbow for a sign that his promise should stand sure."</p> + +<p>"I am glad God made the rainbow, 'cause it is so pretty," said Maggie; +"but I think Noah might have believed him without that, when he took +such care of him in the ark."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Probably he did; we are not told that Noah did not believe, and it was +of his own great goodness and mercy that the Almighty gave to Noah, and +all who should live after him, this beautiful token of his love and +care. But if my little girl could have believed God's promise then, why +can she not do so now? His word holds good as surely in these days as +in those of Noah."</p> + +<p>"So I do, mamma," said Maggie; "I forgot about the rainbow and God's +promise. I wont be afraid any more, but I do wish it would not rain so +hard, and that the wind would not blow quite so much."</p> + +<p>"We are all in God's hands, Maggie. No harm can come to us unless he +wills it."</p> + +<p>"Franky don't like this great wind either, mamma," said Maggie, "and +he said something so funny about it this morning. It was blowing and +blowing, and the windows shook and rattled so, and Franky began to cry +and said, 'I 'fraid.' Then nurse told him not to be afraid, 'cause God +made the wind blow, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> he would take care of him. A little while +after, he was standing on the chair by the window, and it galed harder +than ever, and the wind made a terrible noise, and Franky turned round +to nurse and said, 'How God do blow!' and then the poor little fellow +began to cry again."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Maggie was very good to him," said Bessie; "she put her new +doll in the wagon, and let him pull it about the nursery, only we +watched him all the time, 'cause he's such a misfit." (Bessie meant +mischief.) "Mamma, will you yead us about Noah?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bradford took the Bible and read the chapter in Genesis which +tells about the flood, and the children listened without tiring until +she had finished.</p> + +<p>At last the storm was over,—the wind and rain ceased, and the sky +cleared, to the delight of the children, but they still heard a great +deal of the storm and the damage which had been done. Many vessels had +been wrecked, some with men and women on board, who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> been drowned +in the sea. Some miles farther up the shore, a large ship had been cast +upon the rocks, where she was driven by the gale. The guns of distress +she had fired had been heard by the people of Quam the night before the +storm ceased. It was an emigrant ship coming from Europe, and there +were hundreds of poor people on board, many of whom were drowned; and +most of the saved lost everything they had in the world, so there was +much suffering among them. Mr. Howard and Mr. Norris drove over to the +place, to see if anything could be done for them, and came back to try +and raise money among their friends and acquaintances to buy food and +clothing.</p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie were down on the beach with their father and Colonel +Rush when Mr. Howard joined them, and told them some of the sad scenes +he had just seen. The little girls were very much interested, and the +gentlemen seemed so too. Mr. Bradford and Mr. Duncan gave them money, +and the colonel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> too, pulled out his pocket-book, and taking out a +roll of bills, handed Mr. Howard two or three. Mr. Howard was still +talking, and the colonel, who was listening earnestly, and who was +always careless with his money, did not pay much heed to what he was +doing. He put the roll of bank-notes back in his pocket-book, and, as +he thought, put the book in his pocket; but instead of going in, it +dropped upon the sand behind the rock on which he sat, and no one saw +it fall, but a bad boy standing a little way off.</p> + +<p>Now this boy was a thief and a liar. Perhaps no one had ever taught +him better; but however that was, he was quite willing to do anything +wicked for the sake of a little money. He saw the soldier take out the +roll of bank-notes, put them back again, and then drop the pocket-book +on the sand, and he hoped no one would notice it, so that he might pick +it up when they had gone.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 417px;"> +<img src="images/i-259.jpg" width="417" height="600" alt="Colonel and girls on beach." /> +<div class="caption">Bessie at Sea Side. P. 252.</div> +</div> + +<p>By and by the colonel said he was tired, and thought he would go home. +Mr. Bradford<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> and the other gentlemen said they would go with him, +Mr. Bradford telling his little girls to come too.</p> + +<p>"In a minute, papa," said Bessie; "my dolly's hat has come off, and I +must put it on."</p> + +<p>"We'll go on then," said her father; "you can run after us."</p> + +<p>The gentlemen walked on, while Bessie began to put on Miss Margaret +Horace Rush Bradford's hat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maggie!" she said, "there's Lily Norris going out in the boat with +her father, and mamma said we might ask her to tea. I know she'd yather +come with us; you yun ask her, while I put on my dolly's hat, and then +I'll come too."</p> + +<p>Maggie ran on, leaving Bessie alone. The boy came a little nearer. +Bessie put on her doll's hat, and was going after her sister, when she +dropped her doll's parasol, and as she stooped to pick it up, she saw +the pocket-book.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's my soldier's porte-monnaie!" she said to herself; "I know +it is; I'll take it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> to him. My hands are so full, maybe I'll lose it. +I'll put it in my bosom, and then it will be all safe."</p> + +<p>She laid doll, parasol, and the little basket she held in her hand upon +the rock, picked up the pocket-book, and pulling down the neck of her +spencer, slipped it inside. Just at this moment the boy came up to her.</p> + +<p>"Give me that," he said.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Bessie, drawing back from him.</p> + +<p>"Don't you make believe you don't know,—that pocket-book. It's mine."</p> + +<p>"It isn't," said Bessie; "it's the colonel's."</p> + +<p>"No, 'taint; it's mine. Hand over now, else I'll make you."</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't," said Bessie. "I know it's the colonel's. I've seen it a +great many times, and just now he gave Mr. Howard some money out of it +for the poor people who lost all their things."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to give it to me?" said the boy, coming nearer to her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie, "I am not. I am going to give it to the colonel, +and I shall tell him what a very naughty boy you are. Why, I'm afraid +you're a stealer! Don't you know—"</p> + +<p>Bessie was stopped by the boy taking hold of her, and trying to drag +away the spencer, beneath which he had seen her slip the pocket-book. +Just at this moment Maggie turned her head, to see if Bessie were +coming, and saw her struggling in the grasp of the boy. Down went her +new doll, happily in a soft place in the sand, where it came to no +harm, and forgetting all fear, thinking only of her little sister, she +ran back to her help.</p> + +<p>"Leave my Bessie be! Leave my Bessie be!" she screamed, flying upon the +boy, and fastening with both her hands upon the arm with which he was +tearing away the spencer and feeling for the pocket-book, while he held +Bessie with the other.</p> + +<p>"Let go!" he said, fiercely, between his teeth. But Maggie only held +the tighter, screaming,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Leave my Bessie be! Oh! papa, papa, do come!"</p> + +<p>Both terrified children were now screaming at the top of their voices, +and they were heard by their father and the other gentlemen, who turned +to see what was the matter. Although they were at a distance, Mr. +Bradford saw his little girls were in great trouble. Back he came, as +fast as he could, Mr. Howard and Uncle John after him, the colonel, +too, as quick as his crutches would carry him.</p> + +<p>"Let go!" cried the boy, as he saw Mr. Bradford, letting go his own +hold on Bessie, and giving Maggie a furious blow across the face. But +fearing he would seize Bessie again, brave little Maggie held fast.</p> + +<p>"Take that, then!" said the boy, giving her another and a harder blow.</p> + +<p>Maggie fell, striking her head against the edge of the rock, and the +boy turned to run before Mr. Bradford reached the spot. But all this +time another pair of eyes had been upon him. Four swift feet were +coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> toward him, and ever so many sharp teeth were set for a grip of +him. While the children had been with their father, Toby, Mr. Jones' +great white dog, had been seated on the edge of the bank before the +house, watching the people as he was accustomed to do.</p> + +<p>Now between Toby and Joe Sands, the boy who tried to take the +pocket-book, there was great enmity. Joe never saw Toby without trying +to provoke him to a quarrel by making faces at him, and throwing sticks +and stones; but though the dog would growl and show his teeth, he had +never yet tried to bite him.</p> + +<p>This afternoon, the moment Joe appeared, Toby seemed to suspect +mischief. He straightened himself up, put his head on one side, cocked +up one ear and drooped the other. Toby was not a handsome dog at the +best of times, and it was not becoming to him to hold his ears in this +fashion. He looked very fierce as he sat thus, but Joe did not see him, +or he might have been afraid to meddle with Bessie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + +<p>Toby never told whether he saw the colonel drop the pocket-book, but +from the minute it fell, he looked all ready for a spring, and never +took his eyes from Joe. When the boy spoke to Bessie, he appeared still +more uneasy, rose to his feet, snarled, and gave short, angry barks, +but did not think it was time to interfere till Joe laid his hand upon +the little girl. Then his patience was at an end, and with a furious, +rough bark, he rushed over the bank, down the beach, and just as Joe +turned to run from Mr. Bradford, seized fast hold of his leg. Happily +for Joe, he had on a thick, strong pair of boots; but even through +these Toby's teeth came in a way far from pleasant. Not a step could +he stir, and in an instant Mr. Bradford and the other gentlemen came +up. Mr. Bradford stooped to pick up Maggie, while Mr. Howard collared +Joe. Even then Toby would not let go, but gave Joe a good shake, which +made him cry out with pain. Poor Maggie was quite stunned for a moment +by the blow which Joe had given her, and there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> was a bad cut on her +head, where it had struck the rock, while one side of her face was much +bruised and scratched. But when, a moment after, she came to herself, +her first thought was still for Bessie, who was crying loudly with +terror and distress for her sister.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Bessie, my Bessie! leave her be!" she said, as she slowly +opened her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Bessie is safe, my darling," said her father. "She is not hurt at +all. My poor little Maggie!" and sitting down on the rock, with her on +his knee, he tenderly bound up her head with his handkerchief. By this +time, Colonel Rush and two or three more people had come up, and Uncle +John went on to the house, to tell Mrs. Bradford what had happened, so +that she might not be startled when she saw Maggie.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howard kept his hand on Joe's shoulder, but there was not much +need, for Toby still held him fast, and if he made the least move, gave +him a hint to keep still, which Joe thought it best to mind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford carried Maggie to the house, and the rest followed; but +it was a long time before any one could make out what had happened. +Bessie was too much frightened to tell, Maggie too sick, and Joe too +sullen. And Maggie did not know about the pocket-book. All she could +tell was, that she had seen Bessie struggling with the boy, and had run +to help her. At last Bessie was quieted, and then told the story in her +straightforward way, putting her hand in her bosom and pulling out the +pocket-book.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you villain!" said Mrs. Jones, who was holding the basin while +Mrs. Bradford washed the blood from Maggie's face and head. "Oh, you +villain! Aint it enough to go robbin' orchards and melon patches, and +farmers' wagons market-days, but you must be fighting and knocking +down babies like these to get what's not your own? If you don't see +the inside of the county jail for this, my name's not Susan Jones. And +you'd have been there long ago, only for your poor mother,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> whose heart +ye're breakin' with your bad ways. That's you, Toby, my boy; you know +when you've a rascal fast; but you may let him go now, for there's your +master, and he will take him in hand."</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones was the constable, and Toby knew this quite as well as if he +went on two feet instead of four. When Mr. Jones was sent to arrest any +one, he always took Toby with him, and it was curious to see how the +dog would watch the prisoner, and seem to feel that he had quite as +much share as his master in bringing him to be punished for the wicked +things he had done. As soon as Mr. Jones came in the room, he let go of +Joe, but sat down close to him, ready to take another grip, if he tried +to run away.</p> + +<p>"And what's to be done about your poor mother?" said Mr. Jones, when he +had heard the story. "I shall have to have you up for this. It will go +nigh to kill her."</p> + +<p>Joe made no answer, only looked more sullen and obstinate than ever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Jones," said Maggie, in a weak little voice, "please take him +away; it frightens me to see him."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take him right off where he wont trouble you for one +while," said Mr. Jones. "But how is it that you are afraid of him just +standing here, and you weren't afraid of him when he was handling you +and Bessie so rough?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't think about that," said Maggie, "and if I had, I couldn't let +anybody do anything to my Bessie. I thought he was going to kill her. +Oh, dear! oh, dear!" and Maggie began to cry again; she could not have +told why, except that she could not help it.</p> + +<p>"Come along," said Mr. Jones, taking hold of Joe's arm.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Jones," said Bessie, "are you going to take him to the jail?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to take him to the squire, and I guess he'll give him a few +days of it. Serve him right too."</p> + +<p>"But I'm 'fraid it will break his mother's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> heart," said Bessie; "Mrs. +Jones said it would."</p> + +<p>"He's breakin' his mother's heart fast enough, any way," said Mr. +Jones. "Drinkin' and swearin' and stealin' and idlin' round, when he +ought to be a help to her, poor, sick body! It isn't goin' to do him +nor his mother no harm for him to be shut up for a little while where +he can think over his bad ways. He wants bringin' up somewhere, and +Toby knows it too."</p> + +<p>Toby growled and wagged his tail, as if to say he agreed with Mr. +Jones. The growl was for Joe, the wag for his master.</p> + +<p>"You surely don't think he ought to be let off," said Mrs. Jones, "when +he hurt Maggie that way? Why, she's going to have a black eye, sure as +a gun!"</p> + +<p>Joe walked away with Toby at his heels. Maggie's head was bound up, and +her bruises washed with arnica, and both she and Bessie were petted and +comforted.</p> + +<p>As for the new doll, which Maggie had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> thrown down in her haste to run +to her little sister's help, it was picked up by one of the gentlemen, +who brought it safe and unbroken to Maggie. To be sure, Miss Bessie +Margaret Marion's dress was rather soiled by the wet sand on which she +had fallen; but as it was of muslin, it could easily be washed, and +Mrs. Jones soon made it quite clean again.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX">XIX.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>SOUL AND INSTINCT.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-273.jpg" alt="P" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">"P</span>APA," said Maggie, the next morning, as she sat on his knee at +the breakfast-table, leaning her aching little head against his +breast,—"papa, is there anything in the paper about our 'sault and +battery?"</p> + +<p>"About what?"</p> + +<p>"Our 'sault and battery," said Maggie. "The other day, Uncle John was +reading to Aunt Helen how Mr. King was knocked down, and beaten by a +man who didn't like him; and he called it an 'unprovoked 'sault and +battery.' I thought that meant when somebody hit somebody that didn't +do anything to him."</p> + +<p>"So it does," said her father, trying not to smile, "and yours was a +most 'unprovoked assault and battery,' my poor little woman; but there +is nothing in the paper about it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you think that there should be?" asked Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, mamma; I'm very glad there isn't. I thought maybe the +paper-maker would hear about it, and put it into his paper; and I +didn't want people to be reading about Bessie and me. Do you think he +would do it another day, papa?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, dear; you need not be afraid."</p> + +<p>"I don't see what's the reason then," said Harry. "Maggie is a real +heroine, and so is Bessie. Why, there isn't a boy at Quam, however big +he is, that would dare to fight Joe Sands; and to think of our mite of +a Bess standing out against him, and holding fast to the pocket-book, +and Maggie running to the rescue!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you little speck of nothing ground down to a point," said Uncle +John, catching Bessie up in his arms, "how dared you hold your ground +against such a great rough boy as that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it was the colonel's pocket-book,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> said Bessie, "and he was +going to take it, and it wasn't his; so I <i>had</i> to take care of it, you +know. I couldn't let him do such a naughty thing."</p> + +<p>"They're bricks, both of them," said Harry.</p> + +<p>"So they are," said Fred; for both of the boys were very proud of their +little sisters' courage; "and Maggie has the right stuff in her, if she +is shy. She is a little goose where there is nothing to be afraid of, +and a lion where there is."</p> + +<p>"Holloa! what is all this heap of pennies for?" asked the colonel, a +while after, as he came into Mrs. Jones' parlor, and found Maggie and +Bessie, like the famous king, "counting out their money." He had come +up the bank and paid them a visit two or three times since Maggie's +birthday, so that they were not very much surprised to see him.</p> + +<p>"But first tell me how that poor little head and face are, Maggie? Why, +you do look as if you'd been to the wars. Never mind, the bruises will +soon wear away; and as for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> cut, your hair will hide that. It is +not every soldier that gets over his scars so easily; and you must not +be ashamed of yours while they last. But you have not told me what you +are going to do with so much money," he added, when he was comfortably +seated in the arm-chair.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't much," said Maggie; "it is only a little, and we wish it +was a whole lot."</p> + +<p>"And what do you and Bessie want with a whole lot of money? I should +think you had about everything little girls could wish for."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have," said Bessie, "and we don't want it for ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Who for, then?"</p> + +<p>"For those poor shipyecked people. Papa and Uncle John have gone over +to see them; and mamma and Aunt Helen have gone to the village to buy +some flannel and calico to make things for the poor little children +who have lost theirs. Mr. Howard says there's a baby there that hasn't +anything but a ni'-gown, and no mother, 'cause she was drowned. A +sailor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> man has it, and he's going to take care of it, but he hasn't +any clothes for it. And we wanted to help buy things, but we have such +a very little money."</p> + +<p>"Bessie has such a little, 'cause she spent all hers for my birthday +present," said Maggie. "Mamma gives us six cents a week, but it's such +a little while since my birthday, Bessie hasn't saved much. I have more +than she has, but not a great deal."</p> + +<p>"And she wanted mamma to let her hem a pock'-han'kerchief and earn some +money," said Bessie, "but she can't, for the doctor says she musn't use +her eye while it's so black."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the colonel, "I think you two have fairly earned the right +to dispose of at least half the money that was in that unfortunate +pocket-book. You shall say what shall be done with it."</p> + +<p>Maggie looked as if she did not know what to say.</p> + +<p>"If you mean, sir," said Bessie, "that you're going to give us half +that money, papa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> and mamma would not like it. They don't allow us to +yeceive money from people who are not yelations to us."</p> + +<p>"And they are quite right," said the colonel. "I should not like you to +do it, if you were my little girls. But I do not mean that I will give +<i>you</i> the money, only that I will give it away for any purpose you may +choose. Your father and mother can have no objection to that. There +were fifty dollars in the pocket-book. Half of that is twenty-five. +Now, shall I give it all to the shipwrecked people, or shall I give +part to something else?"</p> + +<p>"Will you please to 'scuse me if I whisper to Maggie?" said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said the colonel.</p> + +<p>They whispered together for a minute or two, and then Bessie said, "If +you didn't mind it, sir, we would like to give half to Mrs. Sands; +she's very poor, and sick too; and she's in such a trouble 'cause Joe's +so bad. She has no one to work for her or do anything.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> Mamma sent Jane +to see her, and she told us about her; and we're so very sorry for her."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are two forgiving little souls," said the colonel. "Do you +want me to give money to the mother of the boy who treated you so?"</p> + +<p>"<i>She</i> didn't treat us so," said Maggie, "and we would like her to be +helped 'cause she's so very poor. She cried about the pocket-book, +and she is a good woman. She couldn't help it if Joe was so bad. We +can't help being a little speck glad that Joe is shut up, he's such +a dangerous boy; and we'd be afraid of him now; but his mother feels +very bad about it. So if you want to do what we like with the money, +sir, please give half to the baby in the shipwreck, and half to Joe's +mother."</p> + +<p>"Just as you please," said the colonel; "twelve and a half to the baby, +twelve and a half to Mrs. Sands. I shall give the baby's money to Mrs. +Rush, and ask her to buy what it needs. Will not that be the best way?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<p>The children said yes, and were much pleased at the thought that Mrs. +Sands and the little orphan baby were to be made comfortable with part +of the money which they had saved.</p> + +<p>"Now, suppose we go out on the piazza," said the colonel; "Mrs. Rush is +there talking to Grandpa Duncan, and I told them I would come out again +when I had seen you."</p> + +<p>"But there's no arm-chair out there," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; the settee will do quite as well for a while."</p> + +<p>But when Mrs. Jones happened to pass by, and saw the colonel sitting +on the piazza, nothing would do but she must bring out the arm-chair, +and make a great fuss to settle him comfortably. Maggie could not help +confessing she was very kind, even if she did not always take the most +pleasant way of showing it.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of, Bessie?" asked the colonel, after he had +talked to Mr. Duncan for some time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bessie was sitting on the piazza step, looking at Toby with a very +grave face, as he lay beside her with his head in her lap.</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry for Toby," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Why, I think he is as well off as a dog can be. He looks very +comfortable there with his head in your lap."</p> + +<p>"But he hasn't any soul to be saved," said the child.</p> + +<p>"He does not know that," said the colonel, carelessly; "it does not +trouble him."</p> + +<p>"But," said Bessie, "if he had a soul, and knew Jesus died to save it, +he would be a great deal happier. It makes us feel so happy to think +about that. Isn't that the yeason people are so much better and happier +than dogs, grandpa?"</p> + +<p>"That's the reason they should be happier and better, dear."</p> + +<p>"There are some people who know they have souls to be saved, who don't +think about it, and don't care if Jesus did come to die for them; are +there not, grandpa?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, Maggie, there are very many such people."</p> + +<p>"Then they can't be happy," said Bessie,—"not as happy as Toby, for he +don't know."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe Joe thinks much about his soul," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not," answered Mr. Duncan.</p> + +<p>"Grandpa," said Bessie, "if people know about their souls, and don't +care, I don't think they are much better than Toby."</p> + +<p>"But, grandpa," said Maggie, "Toby behaves just as if he knew some +things are naughty, and other things right. How can he tell if he +has no soul? How did he know it was naughty for Joe to steal the +pocket-book; and what is the reason he knows Susie must not go near the +fire nor the cellar stairs?"</p> + +<p>"It is instinct which teaches him that," said grandpa.</p> + +<p>"What is that?"</p> + +<p>"We cannot tell exactly. It is something which God has given to animals +to teach them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> what is best for themselves and their young. It is not +reason, for they have no soul nor mind as men, women, and children +have; but by it some animals, such as dogs and horses, often seem to +know what is right and wrong. It is instinct which teaches the bird to +build her nest. I am an old man, and I suppose you think I know a great +deal, but if I wanted to build a house for my children, I would not +know how to do it unless I were shown. But little birdie, untaught by +any one,—led only by the instinct which God has given her,—makes her +nest soft and comfortable for her young. It is instinct which teaches +Toby to know a man or a boy who is to be trusted from one who is not; +which makes him keep Susie from creeping into danger when he is told to +take care of her."</p> + +<p>"And, grandpa," said Bessie, "Toby had an instinct about our baby, too. +The other day, when nurse left her asleep in the cradle, and went down +stairs for a few minutes, she woke up and fretted. Toby heard her, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +went down stairs, and pulled nurse's dress, and made her come up after +him to baby."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was his instinct," said Mr. Duncan. "He knew that baby +wanted to be taken up, and that nurse should come to her."</p> + +<p>"He did such a funny thing the other day," said Maggie, "when Fred +played him a trick. You know he brings Mr. Jones' old slippers every +evening, and puts them by the kitchen door, so Mr. Jones can have them +all ready when he comes from his work. You tell it, Bessie, it hurts my +face to speak so much."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bessie, who was always ready to talk, "Fred took the +slippers, and hid them in his trunk, 'cause he wanted to see what Toby +would do. Toby looked and looked all over, but the poor fellow could +not find them. So at last he brought an old pair of yubber over-shoes, +and put them by the kitchen door. Then he went away and lay down behind +the door, and he looked so 'shamed, and so uncomf'able, Maggie and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +felt yeal sorry for him, and we wanted to show him where the slippers +were, but we didn't know ourselves, and Fred wouldn't tell us. Then +Fred called him ever so many times, but he was very cross, and growled, +and would not go at all till Fred said, 'Come, old dog, come, get the +slippers.' Then he came out and yan after Fred, and we all yan, and it +was so funny to see him. He was so glad, and he pulled out the slippers +and put them in their place, and then he took the old yubbers and put +them in the closet, and lay down with his paws on the slippers, as if +he thought somebody would take them away again. And now Mrs. Jones says +that every morning he hides them in a place of his own, where no one +can find them but his own self. I think that is very smart; don't you, +grandpa?"</p> + +<p>"Very smart," said Mr. Duncan; "Toby is a wise dog."</p> + +<p>"But, grandpa, don't Toby have conscience, too, when he knows what's +good and what's naughty? Mamma says it's conscience that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> tells us when +we're good, and when we're naughty."</p> + +<p>"No, dear; Toby has no conscience. If he knows the difference between +right and wrong in some things, it is partly instinct, partly because +he has been taught. Conscience is that which makes us afraid of +displeasing God, and breaking his holy laws, but Toby feels nothing of +this. He is only afraid of displeasing his master; he has neither love +nor fear of One greater than that master, for he does not know there is +such a wise and holy being. If Toby should steal, or do anything wrong, +God would not call him to account for it, because he has given to the +dog no soul, no conscience, no feeling of duty to his Maker."</p> + +<p>"Grandpa," said Bessie, "don't you mean that if Toby is naughty, God +will not punish him when he dies, 'cause he didn't know about him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; for Toby there is neither reward nor punishment in another +world. For him, there is no life to come."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Grandpa," said Maggie, "where will Toby's instinct go when he dies?"</p> + +<p>"It will die with the dog. It is mortal; that is, it must die; but +our souls are immortal; they will go on living for ever and ever, +either loving and praising God through all eternity, or sinking down +to endless woe and suffering. Toby is a good, wise, faithful dog, +and knows a great deal, but the weakest, the most ignorant boy or +girl—that poor idiot you saw the other day—is far better, of far more +value in the sight of God, for he has a soul; and to save that precious +soul, our Lord left his heavenly home, and died upon the cross. Think +what a soul is worth when it needed that such a price be paid for its +salvation!"</p> + +<p>"I can't help being sorry for Toby, 'cause he has no soul," said +Bessie; "but I'm a great deal sorrier for those people that don't think +about their souls, and go to Jesus to be saved. How can they help +it, when they know he wants them to come? Grandpa, don't they feel +ungrateful all the time?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am afraid not, Bessie. If they do not feel their need of a Saviour, +they do not feel their ingratitude."</p> + +<p>Bessie was silent for a minute or two, and sat gazing for a while far +away over the water, with the thoughtful look she so often had in her +eyes, and then she said slowly, as if speaking to herself,—</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they think about for ever and ever and ever."</p> + +<p>No one answered her. Not a word had the colonel said since Bessie had +said that she thought those who did not care for their souls were no +better than Toby; but he sat with his eyes sometimes on her, sometimes +on the dog, and his face, which was turned from his wife and Mr. +Duncan, had a vexed, troubled look. Mrs. Rush had often seen that look +during the last few days, and now she guessed it was there, even though +she did not see it. But, presently, when the carriage was seen coming +back with Mrs. Bradford and Mrs. Duncan, he drove it away, and was soon +laughing and talking as usual.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX">XX.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>NURSE TAKEN BY SURPRISE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-289.jpg" alt="N" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">N</span>URSE and Jane had taken all the children for a long walk. About a +mile up the shore lived the woman who took in Mrs. Bradford's washing. +Mrs. Bradford wished to send her a message, and told Jane to go with +it. There were two ways by which this house could be reached: one by +the shore, the other by a road which ran farther back, part of the +way through the woods. About a quarter of a mile this side of the +washer-woman's, it turned off nearer to the shore; and here it was +crossed by the brook, which also crossed the road to the station. It +was wider here, and deeper, and ran faster towards the sea. Over it was +built a rough bridge. Two beams were laid from bank to bank; on these +were placed large round logs, a foot or two apart, and above these +were the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> planks, with a miserable broken rail. It was a pretty place +though, and the walk to it was shady and pleasant,—pleasanter than the +beach on a warm day.</p> + +<p>Nurse said she would walk to the bridge with the children, and rest +there, while Jane went the rest of the way. When Harry and Fred heard +this, they said they would go too, for the brook was a capital place +to fish for minnows. So they all set off, the boys carrying their +fishing-rods and tin pails.</p> + +<p>But when they reached the bridge, they found there would be no fishing. +The rains of the great storm a few days ago had swollen the brook very +much, and there had been several heavy showers since, which had kept it +full, so it was now quite a little river, with a muddy current running +swiftly down to the sea. The tiny fish were all hidden away in some +snug hole, and the boys knew it was of no use to put out their lines.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother!" said Harry. "I thought the water would be lower by this +time. Never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> mind, we'll have some fun yet, Fred. Let's go in and have +a wade!"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe father would let us," said Fred. "He said we must not +the day before yesterday, and the water is as high now as it was then."</p> + +<p>"Let's go back, then," said Harry. "I don't want to stay here doing +nothing."</p> + +<p>"No," said Fred. "Let's go on with Jane to the washer-woman's. She has +a pair of guinea-fowls, with a whole brood of young ones. Bessie and I +saw them the other day, when Mr. Jones took us up there in his wagon. +We'll go and see them again."</p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie asked if they might go too, but nurse said it was +too far. Bessie did not care much, as she had seen the birds once, but +Maggie was very much disappointed, for she had heard so much of the +guinea-fowls, that she was very anxious to have a look at them. So Jane +said, if nurse would let her go, she would carry her part of the way. +So at last nurse said she might. Then Franky said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> he wanted to go too, +but he was pacified by having a stick with a line on the end of it +given to him, with which he thought he was fishing.</p> + +<p>A tree which had been blown down by the gale lay near the bridge, and +on this nurse sat down with baby on her knee, and Bessie and Franky +beside her. Franky sat on the end of the log, toward the water, where +he was quite safe, if he sat still, and nurse meant to keep a close eye +on him. But something happened which made her forget him for a moment +or two.</p> + +<p>"And I'll tell you Cinderella," said nurse to Bessie, as the others +went off.</p> + +<p>"I'd yather hear about when you were a little girl on your father's +farm," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>Nurse liked to talk of this, so she began to tell Bessie of the time +when she was young, and lived at home in far-off England. Bessie had +heard it all very often, but she liked it none the less for that. +Franky sat still, now and then pulling up his line, and saying,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> "Not +one fis!" and then throwing it out again.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the sound of wheels was heard, and looking round, they saw +Miss Adams' pony carriage, with the lady driving, and the little groom +behind.</p> + +<p>Several times since the day when Miss Adams had teased Bessie, and +Bessie had called her a kitchen lady, she had shown a wish to speak to +the little girl; but she could never persuade her to come near her. +Once or twice, as Bessie was passing through the hall of the hotel, +Miss Adams had opened her door and called to her in a coaxing voice; +but Bessie always ran off as fast as possible, without waiting to +answer. As Miss Adams passed, she nodded, drove on a little way, and +then turned back. She pulled in her horses close to nurse and Bessie. +Baby crowed and shook her little hands at the carriage. It was a pretty +affair, the low basket, softly cushioned, the black ponies with their +bright, glittering harness, and the jaunty groom in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> neat livery; +but Bessie had no wish to get in it when Miss Adams said, "Come, +Bessie, jump in and take a ride."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, ma'am," said Bessie, drawing closer to nurse.</p> + +<p>"Yes, come," said Miss Adams, coaxingly. "I'll give you a nice ride, +and bring you back quite safe to your nurse, or take you home, as you +like."</p> + +<p>"I'd yather not," said Bessie, taking hold of nurse's dress, as if she +feared Miss Adams might take her off by force.</p> + +<p>"You don't know how pleasant it is," said Miss Adams,—"come."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to yide," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>All this time nurse had been looking very grim. She was quite an old +woman, and had lived in the family a great many years, for she had +taken care of Mrs. Bradford herself when she was a little girl. She +loved her and her children dearly, and would have done anything in +the world for them, and if any one brought harm or trouble to her +nurslings, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> ruffled up her feathers like an old hen, and thought +herself at liberty to do or say anything she pleased.</p> + +<p>"And she wouldn't be let, if she did want to," she said sharply to Miss +Adams.</p> + +<p>The young lady looked at the old woman with a sparkle in her eye.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the baby, too, if you like," she said, mischievously; "I can +drive quite well with her on my lap, and Bessie can sit beside me."</p> + +<p>"My baby!" said nurse, who seemed to think the baby her own special +property,—"my baby! Do you think I'd risk her neck in a gimcrack like +that? There isn't one of them I'd trust a hand's breadth with ye, not +if ye was to go down on your bended knees."</p> + +<p>"I'm not likely to do that," said Miss Adams, turning round and driving +off once more, "Well, good-by, Bessie, since you wont come."</p> + +<p>She had gone but a short distance, when she drew in the ponies again, +jumped out, tossed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> the reins to the groom, and ran back to the bridge. +"Bessie," she said, "I want to speak to you; will you come over on the +other side of the road?"</p> + +<p>Bessie looked as shy as Maggie might have done. "No, ma'am," she +answered.</p> + +<p>"But I have something very particular to say to you, and I shall not +tease or trouble you at all. Come, dear, that is a good child. If you +do not, I shall think you are angry with me still."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not," said Bessie. "Well, I'll go."</p> + +<p>"Not with my leave," said nurse. "If you have anything to say, just say +it here, miss. You can't have anything to tell this child her old nurse +can't hear."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have," said Miss Adams. "Come, Bessie. I shall not pull your +hair. I want to speak to you very much. Don't you wish to do as you +would be done by?"</p> + +<p>"I think I'd better go; bett'n't I?" said Bessie. "I don't want her to +think I'm angry yet."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sit ye still," said nurse, without looking at Miss Adams. "I sha'n't +let ye go to have I know not what notions put into your head."</p> + +<p>Miss Adams looked vexed, and bit her lip, then she laughed. "Now, don't +be cross, nurse. I am not going to say anything to Bessie which you or +her mother would not approve."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said nurse, dryly.</p> + +<p>"And if Mrs. Bradford were here, I am sure she would let Bessie come."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said nurse again, beginning to trot baby rather harder than +she liked.</p> + +<p>Miss Adams stood tapping the toe of her gaiter with her riding whip. +"I promise you," she said, "that I will let her come back to you in +a moment or two, and that I will not do the least thing which could +trouble or tease her."</p> + +<p>"Promises and fair words cost nothing," said nurse.</p> + +<p>"How dare you say that to me?" she said, losing her temper at last. +"Whatever else I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> may have done, I have never yet broken my word! +Bessie,"—she said this in a softer tone,—"don't think that of me, +dear. I would not say what was not true, or break a promise, for the +world." Then to nurse again: "You're an obstinate old woman, and—Look +at that child!"</p> + +<p>These last words were said in a startled tone and with a frightened +look.</p> + +<p>Nurse turned her head, started up, and then stood still with fear and +amazement. Finding himself unnoticed, Master Franky had concluded +that he had sat quiet long enough, and slipping off his stone, he had +scrambled up the bank and walked upon the bridge. About the centre of +this he found a broken place in the railing through which he put the +stick and line with which he was playing to fish. Putting his head +through after it, he saw that it did not touch the water and that just +in front of him was the projecting end of one of the logs. Here, he +thought, he could fish better, and slipping through, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> was now where +Miss Adams told nurse to look at him, stooping over, with one fat hand +grasping the railing and with the other trying to make his line touch +the water. The bridge was four or five feet above the stream, and +although a fall from it might not have been very dangerous for a grown +person, a little child like Franky might easily have been swept away by +the current, which was deepest and swiftest where he was standing.</p> + +<p>"Don't speak," said Miss Adams, hastily, and darting round to the other +side of the bridge, she walked directly into the water, and stooping +down, passed under the bridge and came out under the spot where Franky +stood. As she had expected, the moment he saw her, he started and fell, +but Miss Adams was ready for him. She caught him in her arms, waded +through the water, and placed him safe and dry on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you naughty boy!" said nurse, the moment she had done so, "what am +I to do with you now?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nosin' at all; Franky dood boy. Didn't fall in water."</p> + +<p>"And whose fault is that I should like to know," said Miss Adams, +laughing and shaking her dripping skirts, "you little monkey? I do not +know but I should have done better to let you fall into the water and +be well frightened before I pulled you out."</p> + +<p>"Franky not frightened; Franky brave soldier," said the child.</p> + +<p>"You're a mischievous monkey, sir," said the young lady.</p> + +<p>"That he is," said nurse, speaking in a very different way from that in +which she had spoken before. "And where would he have been now but for +you and the kind Providence which brought you here, miss? What would I +have done, with the baby in my arms and he standing there? I'd never +have thought of catching him that way. It was right cute of you, miss."</p> + +<p>"I saw it was the only way," said Miss Adams. "I knew he would be off +that slippery log if he was startled."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thank you again and again, miss," said the nurse, "and so will his +mother; there's your beautiful dress all spoiled."</p> + +<p>"Oh! that's nothing," said Miss Adams, giving her dress another shake; +"it was good fun. But now, when I have saved one of your chickens from +a ducking, you cannot think I would hurt the other if you let me have +her for a moment."</p> + +<p>"Surely I will," said nurse; "but you are not going to stand and talk +in such a pickle as that? You'll catch your death of cold."</p> + +<p>"No fear," said Miss Adams, "I am tough. Come now, Bessie." She held +out her hand to the little girl, and now that she had saved her +brother, she went with her willingly. She was not afraid of her any +more, though she wondered very much what the lady could have to say to +her which nurse might not hear.</p> + +<p>"You'll excuse me for speaking as I did before, miss, but I'm an old +woman, and cross sometimes, and then you see—" Nurse hesitated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I see. I know I deserved it all," said Miss Adams, and then she +led Bessie to the other side of the road. "Suppose I lift you up here, +Bessie; I can talk to you better." She lifted her up and seated her on +the stone wall which ran along the road.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said, leaning her arms upon the wall, "I want to ask you +something."</p> + +<p>"I know what you want to ask me," said Bessie, coloring.</p> + +<p>"What is it, then?"</p> + +<p>"You want me to say I'm sorry 'cause I said that to you the other day, +and I am sorry. Mamma said it was saucy. But I didn't mean to be saucy. +I didn't know how to help it, you asked me so much."</p> + +<p>"You need not be sorry, Bessie. I deserved it, and it was not that I +was going to speak about. I wanted to ask you to forgive me for being +so unkind to you. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, ma'am! I did forgave you that day, and mamma told me +something which made me very sorry for you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What was it? Would she like you to repeat it?"</p> + +<p>"I guess she wont care. She said your father and mother died when you +were a little baby, and you had a great deal of money, more than was +good for you, and you had no one to tell you how to take care of it; so +if you did things you ought not to, we ought to be sorry for you, and +not talk much about them."</p> + +<p>Miss Adams stood silent a moment, and then she said, slowly,—</p> + +<p>"Yes, if my mother had lived, Bessie, I might have been different. I +suppose I do many things I should not do if I had a mother to care +about it; but there is no one to care, and I don't know why I should +myself. I may as well take my fun."</p> + +<p>"Miss Adams," said Bessie, "hasn't your mother gone to heaven?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so," said the young lady, looking a little +startled,—"yes, I am sure of it. They say she was a good woman."</p> + +<p>"Then don't she care up there?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know. They say heaven is a happy place. I should not think my +mother could be very happy even there, if she cared about me and saw me +now."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean she wouldn't like to see you do those things you say you +ought not to do?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you do things that will make her happy? I would try to, +if my mother went to heaven."</p> + +<p>"What would you do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you would not pull little girls' hair, or tease them, or +behave like a kitchen lady."</p> + +<p>"Please don't speak of that any more," said Bessie, coloring.</p> + +<p>"And your mother thinks I have too much money; does she? Well, I do not +know but I have, if having more than I know what to do with is having +too much."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you give some away?" Bessie asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do, and then am scolded for it. I drove down the other day to take +some to those shipwrecked people, and the next day Mr. Howard came to +me with his long face and told me I had done more harm than good; for +some of them had been drinking with the money I gave them, and had a +fight and no end of trouble. That is always the way. I am tired of +myself, of my money, and everything else."</p> + +<p>Bessie did not know what to make of this odd young lady, who was +talking in such a strange way to her, but she could not help feeling +sorry for her as she stood leaning on the wall with a tired, +disappointed look on her face, and said these words in a troubled voice.</p> + +<p>"Miss Adams," she said, "why don't you ask our Father in heaven to give +you some one to take care of you and your money, and to make you—" +Bessie stopped short.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Adams, smiling, "to make me what?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you would not like me to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> it," said Bessie, fidgeting +on her hard seat. "I think I had better go to nurse."</p> + +<p>"You shall go, but I would like to hear what you were going to say. To +make me what?"</p> + +<p>"To make you behave yourself," said Bessie, gravely, not quite sure she +was doing right to say it.</p> + +<p>But Miss Adams laughed outright, then looked grave again.</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of people would like to take care of my money, +Bessie, and there are some people who try, or think they try, to make +me behave myself; but not because they care for me, only because they +are shocked by the things I do. So I try to shock them more than ever."</p> + +<p>Bessie was sure this was not right, but she did not like to tell Miss +Adams so.</p> + +<p>"But I am sorry I shocked you, Bessie, and made you think me no lady. +Now tell me that you forgive me, and shake hands with me. I am going +away to-morrow, and may never see you again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bessie put her little hand in Miss Adams', and lifted up her face to +her.</p> + +<p>"I'll kiss you now," she said, "and I'm sorry I wouldn't that day."</p> + +<p>The young lady looked pleased, and stooping, she kissed her two or +three times, then took her hand to lead her back to nurse. Nurse was +just rising from her seat and looking anxiously up at the sky.</p> + +<p>"There's a cloud coming over the sun," she said; "I'm afraid it is +going to rain."</p> + +<p>"I expect it is," said Miss Adams; "I saw there was a shower coming as +I drove down the hill, but I did not think it would be here for some +time yet."</p> + +<p>Just then the boys and Jane came running up to them, Jane carrying +Maggie in her arms.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nursey!" called Maggie, "it's going to gust. We thought you would +be gone home. Why, there's Miss Adams!"—and Maggie stopped. Not only +she, but all the rest of the party were very much surprised to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> see +Miss Adams standing there, and seeming so friendly with Bessie and +nurse. But there was no time to say anything.</p> + +<p>There was indeed a gust coming. The edge of a black cloud was just +showing itself over the woods which had hidden it till now from nurse.</p> + +<p>"Make haste!" cried Harry; "I never saw a cloud come up so fast."</p> + +<p>"Quick, nurse!" said Miss Adams; "jump into the pony carriage with the +little ones, and we will be home in less than no time. Quick, now!"</p> + +<p>Nurse made no objections now to the "gimcrack." She thought of nothing +but how to get her babies home before the storm should overtake them. +She bundled into the carriage with baby, while Miss Adams, laughing as +if she enjoyed the fun, packed in Maggie, Bessie, and Franky beside +her. "Hurry up, now, Tip!" she said to the groom, and giving the ponies +a crack with her whip, away they dashed down the road.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, boys, try if we can outrun the clouds. See who'll be first at +the bend in the road. One, two, three, and away!" and off she went, +with Fred and Harry after her, while Jane stood still for a moment in +amazement at the pranks of this strange young lady, and then followed +as fast as her feet could carry her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, on went the carriage with its precious load, nurse, as soon +as they were fairly started, wishing they were all out again, and every +minute begging Tip to drive carefully, and not upset them, to which +he did not pay the least attention. But they reached home without +accident, and found papa and Uncle John setting out to meet them.</p> + +<p>It was growing very dark now. The black cloud had covered nearly the +whole sky, and a white line was moving swiftly along the water, showing +that a furious wind was sweeping over the waves. In another minute they +were in the house, and right glad was the anxious mother to see her +little ones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But where are Harry and Fred?" she said; "and how came you home in +that?" looking at the carriage.</p> + +<p>"Miss Adams sent us," said Maggie, "and the boys are coming with her."</p> + +<p>"And she didn't let him fall in, mamma," said Bessie, "and she is all +wet. But she only laughed. She's been talking to me, and I was sorry +for her, and she's sorry 'cause she pulled my hair. I kissed her, so we +are friends now."</p> + +<p>"Miss Adams!" said Mrs. Bradford, in great surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, Miss Adams," said nurse, giving baby to her mother, "and +surely I think she's turned over a new leaf. She's been talking to +Bessie as tame as a lamb, and making friends with her, and that after +me giving her a piece of my mind. And she saved that boy there (oh, you +naughty fellow!) from drowning; for what could I have done?"</p> + +<p>"Saved my boy from drowning!" said Mrs. Bradford, turning pale.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then nurse told how Miss Adams' presence of mind had saved Franky from +a fall, and probably from being carried away and drowned. Just as she +finished her story, the young lady and the boys came up.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Bradford went out on the piazza, to meet Miss Adams, but +she did not mean to come in, nor could she be persuaded to do so, +though the large drops of rain were beginning to plash heavily down; +nor would she listen to any thanks from Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"But you are heated with your run," said Mrs. Bradford, "come in and +have some dry clothes. You will be drenched in this pouring rain, and +will take cold."</p> + +<p>"No fear," said Miss Adams, laughing. "The second wetting will do me no +harm; nothing ever hurts me. Good-by. Good-by, dear little Bessie." She +stooped to kiss her, and running down the bank, snatched the reins from +the groom, jumped into the carriage, and kissing her hand, drove away +through all the rain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Strange, wild girl," said Mrs. Bradford, with a sigh, as she turned +into the house.</p> + +<p>"But there must be some good in her, mamma, when she gave up her +carriage to the children, and walked or rather ran all the way here," +said Harry; "and she didn't seem to think she'd done anything at all. +How she did scud though! I don't like to see a woman act the way she +does, and I can't quite forgive her about Carlo and Bessie; but I do +think there's some good in her."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Harry," said his mother. "There is some good in every one, if we +only knew how to find it."</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI">XXI.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE COLONEL IN TROUBLE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-313.jpg" alt="B" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">"B</span>ESSIE," said Harry, as the children were at their supper, and he saw +his little sister sitting with her spoon in her hand and her eyes fixed +on the table as if she had forgotten the bread and butter and berries +before her,—"Bessie, what are you thinking of."</p> + +<p>"Of Miss Adams," said the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Nurse said she was talking to you ever so long," said Fred; "what was +she saying?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think she meant me to talk about it," said Bessie; "she didn't +want nurse to hear, and so I shall only tell mamma and Maggie. You +know I must tell mamma everything, and I couldn't help telling my own +Maggie."</p> + +<p>"She is a queer dick," said Fred, "pulling your hair, and tormenting +you out of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> life one time, and telling you secrets another. The +idea of a grown woman telling secrets to a little snip like you!"</p> + +<p>"No snip about it!" said Maggie; "and if I was everybody, I'd tell +Bessie every one of my secrets."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Maggie. You always stand up for Bessie and fight her +battles; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"But, Bessie," said Harry, "did Miss Adams tell you you mustn't repeat +what she said?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Then there's no harm in telling."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harry!" said Fred. "If Bessie knows Miss Adams don't want her to +talk about it, she ought not to tell any more than if she had promised; +ought she, father?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said Mr. Bradford; "it would be unkind as well as +dishonorable."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie; "it is not to do to others as I would that they +should do to me."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, little woman," said her father,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> "and remember, dear +children, that is a very safe rule to be guided by, when we do not feel +sure whether a thing is fair or not."</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said Fred, "tell us what ails the colonel. I suppose you +know, for all the grown-uppers seem to be telling you their secrets."</p> + +<p>"Why, that's not a secret! His leg is cut off."</p> + +<p>"Don't think I don't know that. I mean, what makes him so grumpy? He +isn't like the same fellow he was when he first came down here."</p> + +<p>"Fred," said Bessie, giving him a reproving look, "you're not polite at +all to talk that way about my soldier. He's not a fellow, only boys are +fellows, and he's a big gentleman. And he's not that other thing you +called him,—I sha'n't say it, because it is a very ugly word."</p> + +<p>"And it's saucy to say it about the colonel," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Fred. "It's true;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> isn't it, Hal? He used to be +the best company in the world,—always ready to tell us boys stories +by the hour, and full of his fun and jokes. But for the last few days +he has been as solemn as an owl, with no fun to be had out of him, and +if one can get him to talk, it always seems as if he were thinking of +something else. He's as cross as a bear too. Now don't fire up, Bess; +it's so. Starr, his man, says he was never half so impatient or hard to +please all the time he was sick as he has been for the last ten days."</p> + +<p>"Fred," said Mrs. Bradford, "you should not talk to a servant of his +master's faults."</p> + +<p>"He didn't, mother," said Harry,—"at least, not in a way you would +think wrong. The colonel was dreadfully dull and out of sorts the +other day, though he declared that nothing ailed him, and seemed quite +provoked that we should ask, though any one could see with half an eye +that something was the matter. Starr was hanging round, bringing him +this and that, books and newspapers, coaxing him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> to have something +to eat or drink. At last he asked him if there was <i>nothing</i> he could +do for him, and the colonel thundered at him and said, 'Yes, leave me +alone.' Then he got himself up on his crutches and went off, and would +not let Starr help him. The man looked as if he had lost every friend +he had in the world. So Fred told him he didn't believe the colonel +meant anything. Starr said he was sure he did not, for he was the best +master that ever lived. But he was troubled about it, for he was sure +that something was wrong with him. Fred said perhaps his wounds pained +him worse; but Starr said no, the wounds were doing nicely, and the +colonel was not a man to make a fuss about them if they did pain him, +for all the time he was suffering so dreadfully that no one thought he +could live, he never heard a complaint or a groan from him. And it was +then he said the colonel was far harder to please, and more impatient +than when he was so ill."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he wants to get back to his regiment," said Fred.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, it is not that,—at least, Mrs. Rush says it is not; for this +morning, when I was standing in the hall, the doctor came out of the +room with Mrs. Rush, and he said her husband had something on his mind, +and asked if he were fretting to be with his regiment. And she said, +'Oh, no, the colonel never frets himself about that which cannot be.'"</p> + +<p>"Didn't she tell him what it was?" asked Fred.</p> + +<p>"No, but I guess she, too, thinks there's something wrong with him, +for the doctor told her she must not let anything worry him, and she +did not say a word. And when he went, and she turned to go back to her +room, her face was so very sad."</p> + +<p>"She's just the sweetest little woman that ever was made," said Fred, +who was a great admirer of Mrs. Rush, "and I don't know what he can +have to make him fret. I should think he had everything a man could +want."</p> + +<p>"Except the one great thing," said Grandpapa Duncan, in a low voice to +himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford, who had been listening to what his children were saying, +but had not spoken, now walked out on the piazza, where he stood +watching the clearing away of the storm. In a moment or two Bessie +followed him, and silently held out her arms to him to be taken up.</p> + +<p>"Papa," she said, as he lifted her, "do you think my soldier has a +trouble in his mind?"</p> + +<p>"I think he has."</p> + +<p>"Wont you help him, papa?" said Bessie, who, like most little children, +thought her father able to help and comfort every one.</p> + +<p>"I could only show him where he could find help, my darling, and I do +not think he cares to have me tell him."</p> + +<p>"Then is there no one that can help him, papa?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is One who can give him all the help he needs."</p> + +<p>"You mean the One who lives up there?" said Bessie, pointing to the sky.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Will my Bessie pray that her friend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> may receive all the help he +needs from that great merciful Father?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, papa, and you'll ask him, and my soldier will ask him, and +he'll be sure to listen; wont he?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford did not tell his little girl that the colonel would not +ask such aid for himself; he only kissed her and carried her in. Bessie +did not forget her friend that night when she said her evening prayers.</p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie went over to the hotel the next morning with their +mother. After making a visit to their grandma, they thought they would +go to see the colonel, so they ran away to his room. Mrs. Rush was +there busy, and she told them the colonel was out on the piazza. He +was reading the newspaper, but threw it down when they came, and was +very glad to see them. Bessie looked at him earnestly, to see if she +could see any signs of trouble about him. But he seemed much as usual, +laughing and talking pleasantly with them. But she could not forget +what Harry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> had said, and she turned her eyes so often upon him with a +questioning look that he noticed it, and said, "Well, my pet, what is +it? What do you want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Does something trouble you?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Trouble me!" he repeated. "What should trouble me?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered; "but I thought maybe something did."</p> + +<p>"What have I to trouble me?" he again asked, carelessly. "Have I not +the dearest little wife and two of the dearest little friends in the +world, as well as pretty much everything else a reasonable man could +want? To be sure, another leg would be a convenience, but that is a +small matter, and we will see what Palmer can do for me one of these +days; he will make me as good as new again."</p> + +<p>Bessie was not quite satisfied. Though the colonel spoke so gayly, she +felt sure there had been something wrong, if there was not now. She +still watched him wistfully, and the colonel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> looking into her loving +eyes, said, "If I were in any trouble, you would help me out of it, +Bessie; would you not?"</p> + +<p>"If I could," she answered; "but I couldn't do very much, I'm too +little. But we know who can help us; don't we? and we can tell Him. +Mamma has a book named 'Go and tell Jesus.' Aint that a pretty name? I +asked her to read it to me, and she said I couldn't understand it now. +When I am older, she will; but I can understand the name, and I like to +think about it when I have been naughty or have a trouble."</p> + +<p>"May your troubles never be worse than they are now, little one," said +the colonel fondly, with a smile; "and one of your troubles is done +with, Bessie. Do you know that your enemy, Miss Adams, is gone?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is not my enemy any more," said Bessie; "we are friends now, +and I am glad of it, for I don't like to be enemies with people."</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" said the colonel. "How did that come about? I thought she +wanted to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> make it up with you, but I did not see how it was to come +about when you were off like a lamp-lighter every time she came near +you."</p> + +<p>Then Bessie told how Miss Adams' presence of mind had saved Franky from +falling into the stream, "And then we talked a little," she said, "and +I told her I was sorry I had been saucy, and kissed her, and so we are +all made up."</p> + +<p>"That was the way; was it?" said the colonel. "I do not think you were +the one to ask pardon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, she did too," said Bessie; "she said she was sorry she teased me."</p> + +<p>"And what else did she say?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think she meant me to talk about it, 'cause she didn't want +nurse to hear."</p> + +<p>"Then I wont ask you, honorable little woman."</p> + +<p>"And she sent us home in the pony-carriage when the rain was coming, +and ran all the way to our house herself, and mamma was very much +obliged to her," said Maggie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said the colonel, "I suppose I shall have to forgive her +too, since she saved you from a wetting, and took a bad cold in your +service. We all wondered how she came to be so drenched, but she would +not tell us how it happened."</p> + +<p>"Did she take cold?" asked Maggie. "Mamma said she would, but she said +nothing ever hurt her."</p> + +<p>"Something has hurt her this time. They say she was really ill when she +went away this morning, and some of the ladies tried to persuade her to +wait until she was better. But go she would, and go she did. Here comes +Mrs. Rush to take me for a walk. Will you go with us?"</p> + +<p>The children were quite ready, and, mamma's permission gained, they +went off with their friends.</p> + +<p>But although this was the last they saw of Miss Adams, it was not the +last they heard of her. Mrs. Bradford was right. Miss Adams had been +wet to the knees in the brook, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> much heated by her long run; and +then again thoroughly drenched in the rain, and when she reached home, +the foolish girl, for the sake of making people wonder at her, would +not change her clothes. She took a violent cold, but, as the colonel +had said, insisted on travelling the next morning, and went on till she +was so ill that she was forced to give up. She had a long illness, from +which it was thought she would never recover, but she afterwards said +that this was the happiest thing that had ever happened to her in her +life.</p> + +<p>Sometime after this, about Christmas time, came a letter and a little +parcel to Bessie. The letter said,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Little Bessie</span>,—</p> + +<p>"Tell your mother I scorned her advice the day we were caught +in the rain, and paid well for my folly, for I was very ill; +but there was a good, kind doctor, who came and cured me, and +now he is going to 'take care of me and my money, and make me +behave myself.' He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> thinks he can make the 'kitchen lady' less of +a mad-cap; but I do not know but that my long illness has done +that already. While I lay sick, I had time to think, and to feel +sorry that I had acted so wildly and foolishly as to leave myself +without a true friend in the world. I shall never forget you, +Bessie, and I hope you will sometimes think kindly of me, and +that you may do so, will you ask your mother to let you wear this +bracelet in remembrance of</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">Clara Adams</span>."</p> +</div> + +<p>The little parcel contained a very beautiful and expensive bracelet +with a clasp which made it smaller or larger, according to the size of +the arm of the wearer.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Bradford did not think it a suitable thing for her little +girl, and she told Bessie she should put it away till she was grown up.</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't wear it then, mamma," said Bessie; "she never sent Maggie +one, and I don't want to wear what she don't. We can both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> look at it +sometimes, and then we can both think of Miss Adams: but we can't both +wear it, and we don't want to be dressed <i>different alike</i>."</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII">XXII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>THE BROKEN NOSE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-326.jpg" alt="T" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">"T</span>HERE comes mamma with Mamie Stone," said Maggie, as they were going +back to the hotel with Colonel and Mrs. Rush.</p> + +<p>When Mamie saw the little girls, she ran to meet them, saying she was +going home to spend the morning with them; and Mrs. Bradford took +them all back with her. While Maggie and Bessie said their lessons, +Mamie amused herself with Franky and Nellie and the baby; and she was +delighted when nurse made her sit down on the floor, and putting the +baby in her lap, let her hold her for a few minutes. Afterwards they +all had a good play together, a doll's tea-party, and a fine swing.</p> + +<p>Mamie stayed to dinner, and was very good all day; and very soon after +dinner, Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> Stone came to take his daughter home. He was a grave, +serious man, and it was rather unusual to see him with such a bright +smile, and looking so happy. He said a few words in a low tone to Mrs. +Bradford and Mrs. Duncan, and they seemed pleased too, and shook hands +with him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, in answer to something Mrs. Bradford said to him, "I am +glad of it; it is the best thing in the world for Mamie."</p> + +<p>"What is it, papa?" said Mamie, springing forward; "have you got +something for me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered. "Will you come home and see it?"</p> + +<p>"What is it,—a new toy?"</p> + +<p>"The very prettiest plaything you ever had in your life," he answered, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>Mamie clapped her hands. "Can Maggie and Bessie come too?" she asked, +turning to Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Not to-day," said Mrs. Bradford, "but they shall come soon."</p> + +<p>Mamie went away with her father, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> Maggie and Bessie stood and +watched her as she went skipping along by his side, looking very happy +and eager.</p> + +<p>But when an hour or two later they went down on the beach and found +Mamie, she seemed anything but happy. Indeed, she looked as if nothing +pleasant had ever happened to her in her life. She was sitting on a +stone, the marks of tears all over her cheeks and now and then giving +a loud, hard sob. It was more than sulkiness or ill-humor; any one who +looked at the child could see that she was really unhappy. Martha, her +nurse, was sitting a little way off knitting, and not taking the least +notice of her.</p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie ran up to her. "What is the matter, Mamie?" asked +Maggie.</p> + +<p>"My nose is broken," sobbed Mamie, "and my father and mother don't love +me any more."</p> + +<p>"Oh," exclaimed Maggie, paying attention only to the first part of +Mamie's speech, "how did it get broken?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Baby did it."</p> + +<p>"What baby? Not ours?"</p> + +<p>"No, an ugly, hateful little baby that's in my mother's room."</p> + +<p>"How did it do it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; but Martha says it did, and she says that's the reason +my papa and mamma don't love me any more."</p> + +<p>"Don't they love you?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"No, they don't," said Mamie, passionately. "Mamma tried to push me +away, and papa scolded me and took me out of the room. He never scolded +me before, and he was so angry, and it's all for that hateful little +baby. Oh, dear, oh, dear! what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"Wasn't you naughty?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't tell you," said Mamie.</p> + +<p>"Then I know you was. If you hadn't been, you'd say, 'No!'"</p> + +<p>Mamie did not answer. Bessie walked round her, looking at her nose, +first on one side, then on the other.</p> + +<p>"I don't see where it's broken," she said. "It looks very good. Will it +blow now?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Mamie. "I'm afraid to try. Oh, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Does it hurt?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"No, not much; but I expect it's going to."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can feel where it's broken," said Maggie. "Let's squeeze it a +little."</p> + +<p>"I wont let you," said Mamie. "But I'll let Bessie, 'cause she's so +softly."</p> + +<p>Bessie squeezed the nose, first very gently, then a little harder, but +it seemed all right, and felt just as a nose ought to feel. Then Mamie +let Maggie squeeze; but she pinched harder than Bessie had done, and +hurt it a little.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you hurt! Go away!" said Mamie, and set up an angry cry.</p> + +<p>Martha, who had been talking to Jane, rose at this. "Come, now," she +said, "just have done with this. I wont have any more crying, you bad +child."</p> + +<p>"Go away!" screamed Mamie, as Martha came near; "you're bad yourself. +Oh, I want my mamma!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your mamma don't want you then, little broken nose. Have done with +that crying."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell mamma of you," said Mamie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't be running with your tales now. Your mamma has got +some one else to attend to."</p> + +<p>"That's a shame, Martha," said Jane. "She's just teasing you, Miss +Mamie; your mamma does care for you."</p> + +<p>"Martha," said Bessie, "I'm glad you're not my nurse; I wouldn't love +you if you were."</p> + +<p>"There's no living with her. She'll be cured of her spoiled ways now," +said Martha, as she tried to drag the struggling, screaming child away. +But Mamie would not stir a step. She was in a great rage, and fought +and kicked and struck Martha; but just then Mrs. Bradford was seen +coming towards them.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"She's just going on this way because of the baby, ma'am," said Martha.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mamie," said Mrs. Bradford, "you don't look like the happy little girl +who left us a short time ago."</p> + +<p>Mamie stopped screaming, and held out one hand to Mrs. Bradford, but +Martha kept fast hold of the other, and tried to make her come away.</p> + +<p>"Let her come to me, Martha," said the lady; "I want to speak to her."</p> + +<p>Martha looked sulky, but she let go of Mamie, and walked away +muttering. Mrs. Bradford sat down on the rock and took Mamie on her lap.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mamie, what is the matter?" she asked, kindly. "I thought I +should find you so pleasant and happy."</p> + +<p>"My nose is broken," sobbed Mamie, "and oh, dear! my papa and mamma +don't love me any more. I would not care if my nose was broken, if they +only loved me."</p> + +<p>"They do love you just as much as they ever did," said Mrs. Bradford, +"and your nose is not broken. How should it come to be broken?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's an ugly baby in mamma's room," said Mamie. "The bad little +thing did it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense!" said Mrs. Bradford, "how could such a little thing +break your nose? Even if it were to give you a blow, which I am sure it +did not, that tiny fist could not hurt you much."</p> + +<p>"Martha said it did," said Mamie.</p> + +<p>"Then Martha told you what was not true. That is a very foolish, wicked +way which some people have of telling a little child that its nose +is broken, when a baby brother or sister comes to share its parents' +love. And it is quite as untrue to say that your father and mother do +not love you any longer. They love you just as much as they ever did, +and will love you more if you are kind to the baby, and set it a good +example."</p> + +<p>"But I don't want it to be mamma's," said Mamie. "I'm her baby, and I +don't want her to have another."</p> + +<p>"But you are six years old," said Mrs. Bradford. "You surely do not +want to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> called a baby now! Why, Franky would be quite offended if +any one called him a baby. This morning, when you were playing with my +little Annie, you said you did wish you had a baby at home, to play +with all the time; and now, when God has sent you the very thing you +wanted, you are making yourself miserable about it."</p> + +<p>"But it isn't a nice, pretty baby like yours," said Mamie. "It don't +play and crow like little Annie, and it don't love me either. It made a +face and rolled up its fist at me."</p> + +<p>"Poor little thing!" said Mrs. Bradford, "it did not know any better. +Such very small babies do not know how to play. For some time this +little sister must be watched and nursed very carefully by its mother, +for it is weak and helpless; but when it is a little older, though it +must be cared for still, it will begin to hold up its head and take +notice, and play and crow, as Annie does. Then she will know you, and +be pleased when you come, if you are kind to her. By and by you may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +help to teach her to walk and talk. Think what a pleasure that will +be! The first words Franky spoke were taught to him by Maggie, and the +first one of all was 'Mag.'"</p> + +<p>Mamie stopped crying, and sat leaning her head against Mrs. Bradford as +she listened.</p> + +<p>"But I know my father and mother don't love me so much now," she said. +"Mamma did try to push me away, and papa scolded me so, and he never +did it before."</p> + +<p>"Then I am sure you deserved it. I am afraid you must have been very +naughty. Now tell me all about it," said Mrs. Bradford, smoothing back +Mamie's disordered hair, and wiping her heated, tear-stained face with +her own soft, cool handkerchief. "Perhaps we can cure some of your +troubles by talking a little about them. When your father came for you +this afternoon, it seemed to me that half his own pleasure came from +the thought that the baby was to bring so much happiness to you. That +did not look as if he did not love you; did it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, but he was angry with me."</p> + +<p>"Tell me what happened after you went home with him?"</p> + +<p>Mamie put her finger in her mouth and hung her head, but after a moment +she looked up and said,—</p> + +<p>"He took me into mamma's room, and there was a woman there I did not +know, and that baby was in the bed with mamma."</p> + +<p>"And what then?"</p> + +<p>"Mamma told me to come and see my darling little sister, and I cried +and said I would not have her for my sister, and she should not stay +there. And papa said I was naughty, and that woman said she would not +have such a noise there, and I must go away if I was not quiet, and +that made me madder. I wasn't going to be sent out of my own mamma's +room for that baby. If she was its nurse, she could take it away. It +hadn't any business there, and then—then—"</p> + +<p>Mamie was beginning to feel ashamed, and to see that the most of her +trouble came from her own naughtiness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, dear," said Mrs. Bradford, gently, "and then?"</p> + +<p>"And then I tried to pull the baby away, and I tried to slap the bad +little thing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mamie!" exclaimed Maggie and Bessie.</p> + +<p>"That was the reason your papa was angry, was it not?" asked Mrs. +Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am. Mamma pushed me away, and papa carried me out of the room, +and oh, he did scold me so! He called Martha, and told her to take me +away. Then she said my nose was broken, and papa and mamma would not +love me any more, because the baby had come. Oh! I would be good, if +they would let me go back to mamma, and she would love me."</p> + +<p>"She does love you just as much as ever. You see, my child, you +frightened and disturbed her when you tried to hurt that tender little +baby. She cares for you just as much as she did before, and I am sure +she is grieving now because you were naughty, and had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> to be sent away +from her. And your papa, too, when you see him, only tell him you mean +to be a good child, and kind to the baby, and you will find you are +still his own little Mamie, whom he loves so dearly, and for whose +comfort and pleasure he is always caring. I am sorry Martha has told +you such cruel, wicked stories. There is not a word of truth in them, +and you must always trust your father and mother. I am sure your dear +little sister will be as great a delight to you as Annie is to Maggie +and Bessie, and that you will learn to love her dearly; but you must +be kind and loving yourself, dear, not selfish and jealous, if you +should have to give up a little to baby. It was jealousy which made you +so unhappy. Jealousy is a wicked, hateful feeling, one which is very +displeasing in the sight of God, and which makes the person who gives +way to it very miserable."</p> + +<p>"It was Martha who made her jealous," said Maggie. "Martha is a very +bad nurse; she is not fit to have the care of a child.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> Nurse said so, +and that she told wicked stories; so she does, for I have heard her +myself she is very <i>deceptious</i>."</p> + +<p>"Well," said her mother, "I hope Mamie will be too wise to mind what +Martha says after this."</p> + +<p>"I will try to be good," said Mamie, "and I do love you, Mrs. Bradford. +Do you think, when the baby is older, I can hold her on my lap like I +did Annie?"</p> + +<p>"I have not a doubt of it. I cannot tell you in how many ways she will +be a pleasure to you, if you teach her to be fond of you, and she will +be, as your father said, the very prettiest plaything you have ever +had. There comes your papa now;" and Mamie, looking up, saw her father +coming towards them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stone looked grave and troubled, and turned his eyes anxiously +towards Mamie as he spoke to Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Here is a little girl who thinks she has not behaved well, and wishes +to tell you so," said Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Stone held out his arms to Mamie, and in another moment she was +clinging round his neck, with her face against his.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will be good! Will you please love me again?"</p> + +<p>"Love you? and who ever thought of not loving you?" said Mr. Stone. +"Poor little woman, you did not think your father would ever cease to +love his own Mamie? Not if a dozen daughters came. No, indeed, my pet; +and now do you not want to go and see your poor mamma again, and be a +good, quiet girl? She is feeling very badly about you."</p> + +<p>So Mamie went off with her father, feeling quite satisfied that her +nose was as good as ever, and that her father and mother loved her just +as much as they had done before the baby came to claim a share of their +hearts.</p> + + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII">XXIII.</a><br /><br /> + +<i>JESUS' SOLDIER.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap"><img src="images/i-343.jpg" alt="O" width="80" +height="80" /></span><span class="largecap">O</span>NE warm, bright Sunday morning, Mrs. Rush came over to the cottage. +Old Mr. Duncan was sitting on the piazza reading to the children. On +the grass in front of the porch, lay Uncle John, playing with Nellie. +She shook hands with the gentlemen, and kissed the children—Bessie +two or three times with long, tender kisses—and then went into the +sitting-room to see their mother. There was no one there but Mr. and +Mrs. Bradford.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Bradford," said Mrs. Rush, when she had bidden them good-morning, +"I have come to ask you a favor. This is the first Sunday morning since +we have been here that my husband has been able and willing to have +me leave him to go to church, but to-day he is pretty well, and Mrs. +Stanton has offered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> me a seat in her carriage. I could not leave the +colonel quite alone, and he wishes to have Bessie. Will you let her +come over and stay with him while I am gone?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Mrs. Bradford. "I do not, as you know, approve of +Sunday visiting for my children, except when they may be of some use or +comfort, then, indeed, I should never hesitate to let them go."</p> + +<p>"Bessie can indeed be of use, and oh! I trust a help and comfort to +him. Dear Mrs. Bradford," she went on, the tears starting to her +eyes, "I think, I am sure, that God's Spirit is striving with my dear +husband, and he knows not where to look for help. But he has so long +hardened his heart, so firmly closed his ears against all his friends +could say to him, so coldly refused to hear one word on the subject, +that he is now too proud to ask where he must seek it. I am sure, quite +sure, that it has been your dear little Bessie's unquestioning faith, +her love and trust in the power and goodness of the Almighty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> and, +more than all, her firm belief that one for whom he had done so much, +and preserved through so many dangers, must of necessity have a double +share of faith and love, which has touched his heart. He is restless +and unhappy, though he tries to hide it, and I think he is almost +anxious to have me away this morning, that he may have her alone with +him, in the hope that he may hear something in her simple talk which +will show him where to go for aid. He will hear and ask from her what +he will hear and ask from no one else."</p> + +<p>"My little Bessie! That baby!" said Mrs. Bradford, in great surprise. +"Do you mean to tell me that anything she has said has had power with +him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Rush. "I think the first thing that roused +him was one day when he was very ill, and she was in his room. She +thought him asleep, and in her pretty, childish way spoke of the love +she thought he had for his Saviour, and how he had been spared that +he might love and serve him more and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> more. Horace was touched then, +and her words took hold of him I could see, though he tried to seem +impatient and vexed, and would not permit me to allude to them. So it +was again and again. She was always saying some little thing which +would not let him forget or keep his heart closed. She was so fond of +him, so pretty and sweet in all her ways, that he had not the heart +to check her, even when it annoyed him. And besides, I know he could +not bear that her trust in him should be shaken by the knowledge that +he was not what she thought him,—a Christian. Then came the day when +Bessie fell into such trouble with Miss Adams. Annie came to our room, +telling of it, and of the poor child's touching repentance. Horace sat +silent for a good while after Annie had gone away; at last he said, +'Poor innocent little lamb! and she is so earnestly seeking forgiveness +for the trifling fault which is far more the sin of another than her +own, while I—' There he stopped, and indeed it seemed as if he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> +been speaking more to himself than to me. It was the first word I had +ever heard from him which showed that he was allowing the thought +of his own need of forgiveness, but I dared not speak. I felt that +that baby was doing what I could not do. The tiny grain of mustard +seed dropped by that little hand had taken root on a hard and stony +ground, it might be; but I could only pray that the dews of heaven +might fall upon it, and cause it to grow and bring forth fruit. It is +years, I believe, since he has opened a Bible. He made me move mine +from the table, for he said he did not want to see it about. I have +almost feared he would forbid me to read it, and here I felt I must +resist him. Even his wishes or commands must not come between me and +the precious words in which I found so much comfort and strength. But +the other day I had to leave him alone for a little while. I had been +reading my Bible, and left it lying on my chair. When I came back, it +lay upon the window-ledge. There had been no one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> there to touch it +but my husband, and he must have left his seat to reach it. With what +purpose? I thought, with a sudden hope. Yesterday it was the same. I +had been away for a few minutes, and when I came back, the colonel +started from the window where he was standing, and walked as quickly +as he could to his sofa. My Bible lay where I had left it, but a mark +and a dried flower had fallen from it. I was sure now. He had been +searching within for something which might help him, but was still +unwilling to ask for human or divine guidance. Since then I have left +it again on his table, but he has not made me move it, as he would have +done a month ago. And this morning, when Mrs. Stanton sent for me, and +I asked him if he could spare me, he said so kindly, but so sadly,—</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes, go. I fear I have too often thrown difficulties in your +way, poor child; but I shall never do so again. Only, Marion, do not +leave your husband too far behind.'</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I said I would not leave him, but he insisted, and went back to +his careless manner, and said, if you would let him, he would have +Bessie for his nurse this morning. I said I would ask, but he had +better let Starr sit in the room, lest he should want anything she +could not do. But he said no, he would have none but Bessie, and told +me to send Starr at once. But I came myself, for I wanted to tell you +all I felt and hoped. Now, if Bessie comes to him, and he opens the +way, as he may with her, she will talk to him in her loving, trusting +spirit, and perhaps bring him help and comfort."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford had risen from his seat, and walked up and down the room +as she talked. Now he stood still, and said, very low and gently, "And +a little child shall lead them."</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Rush had gone, Mrs. Bradford called Bessie. "Bessie," she +said, taking her little daughter in her arms and holding her very +closely, "how would you like to go over and take care of your soldier +this morning, and let Mrs. Rush go to church?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All by myself, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear. Do you think you will be tired? We shall be gone a good +while. It is a long ride to church."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I wont be tired a bit," said Bessie, "and I'll take such good +care of him. Mamma, are you sorry about something?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear, only very glad and happy."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Bessie, "I thought I saw a tear in your eye when you kissed +me; I s'pose I didn't."</p> + +<p>When the wagon started for church with the rest of the family, Bessie +went with them as far as the hotel, where she was left, and taken to +the colonel's room by Mrs. Rush.</p> + +<p>"Now what shall I do to amuse you, Bessie?" said the colonel, when his +wife had gone.</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't want to be amused on Sunday," said Bessie, looking very +grave. "Franky has his playthings, and baby has her yattle, 'cause they +don't know any better. I used to have my toys, too, when I was young,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +but I am too big now. I mean I'm not very big, but I am pretty old, and +I do know better. Besides, I must do something for you. I am to be your +little nurse and take care of you, mamma said."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do for me?"</p> + +<p>"Just what you want me to."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think I should like you to talk to me a little."</p> + +<p>"What shall I talk about? Shall I tell you my hymn for to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you like."</p> + +<p>"Every day mamma teaches us a verse of a hymn," said Bessie, "till we +know it all, and then on Sunday we say it to papa. I'll say the one +for this week, to-night; but first I'll say it to you. It's such a +pretty one. Sometimes mamma chooses our hymns, and sometimes she lets +us choose them, but I choosed this myself. I heard mamma sing it, and +I liked it so much I asked her to teach it to me, and she did. Shall I +say it to you now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the colonel, and climbing on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> the sofa on which he sat, +she put one little arm over his shoulder, and repeated very slowly and +correctly:—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I was a wandering sheep;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I did not love the fold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I did not love my Father's voice;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I would not be controlled.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I was a wayward child;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I did not love my home;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I did not love my Shepherd's voice;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I loved afar to roam.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The Shepherd sought his sheep;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Father sought his child;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They followed me o'er vale and hill,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er deserts waste and wild.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They found me nigh to death;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Famished and faint and lone;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They bound me with the bands of love;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They saved the wandering one.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Jesus my Shepherd is;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Twas he that loved my soul;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas he that washed me in his blood;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Twas he that made me whole;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas he that sought the lost,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That found the wandering sheep;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas he that brought me to the fold;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Tis he that still doth keep.<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"No more a wandering sheep,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I love to be controlled;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I love my tender Shepherd's voice;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I love the peaceful fold.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No more a wayward child,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I seek no more to roam;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I love my heavenly Father's voice;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I love, I love his home."<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>"Isn't it sweet?" she asked, when she had finished.</p> + +<p>"Say it again, my darling," said the colonel.</p> + +<p>She went through it once more.</p> + +<p>"Where is that hymn?" asked the colonel. "Is it in that book of hymns +Marion has?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Bessie. "Mamma did not say it out of that; but we +will see."</p> + +<p>She slipped down from the sofa, and going for the hymn-book, brought it +to the colonel. He began slowly turning over the leaves, looking for +the hymn.</p> + +<p>"Why, that is not the way," said Bessie; "don't you know how to find a +hymn yet? Here is the way:" and she turned to the end<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> of the book, and +showed him the table of first lines. No, it was not there. "I'll ask +mamma to lend you her book, if you want to yead it for yourself," said +Bessie. "She will, I know."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the colonel, "I do not wish you to."</p> + +<p>"But she'd just as lief, I know."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, darling; I would rather not," said Colonel Rush, as he +laid down the book.</p> + +<p>"Shall I say another?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"I should like to hear that one again," said the colonel, "if you do +not mind saying it so often."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; I like to say it. I guess you like it as much as I do, you +want to hear it so many times. I was glad that I learned it before, but +I am gladder now when you like it so;" and the third time she repeated +the hymn.</p> + +<p>"The Shepherd," she said when she was through; "that means our +Saviour,—does it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> not?—and the big people are the sheep, and the +children the lambs. Maggie and I are his lambs, and you are his sheep; +and you are his soldier too. You are a little bit my soldier, but you +are a great deal his soldier; are you not?"</p> + +<p>The colonel did not answer. He was leaning his head on his hand, and +his face was turned a little from her.</p> + +<p>"Say, are you not?" repeated Bessie,—"are you not his soldier?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not, Bessie," he said, turning his face towards her, and +speaking very slowly. "If I were his soldier, I should fight for him; +but I have been fighting against him all my life."</p> + +<p>"Why?" said the little girl, a good deal startled, but not quite +understanding him; "don't you love him?"</p> + +<p>"No, Bessie."</p> + +<p>It was pitiful to see the look of distress and wonder which came over +the child's face. "Don't you love him?" she said again,—"don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> you +love our Saviour? Oh, you don't mean that,—you only want to tease me. +But you wouldn't make believe about such a thing as that. Don't you +really love him? How can you help it?"</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said the colonel, with a kind of groan, "I want to love him, +but I don't know how. Don't cry so, my darling."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the child, stopping her sobs, "if you want to love him, +he'll teach you how. Tell him you want to; ask him to make you love +him, and he will. I know he will, 'cause he loves you so."</p> + +<p>"Loves me?" said the colonel.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he loves you all the time, even if you don't love him. I think +that's what my hymn means. Even when we go away from him, he'll come +after us, and try to make us love him. I know it's wicked and unkind +not to love him, when he came and died for us. But if you're sorry, he +wont mind about that any more, and he will forgive you. He will forgive +every one when they ask him, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> tell him they're sorry. The other +day, when I was so wicked and in such a passion, and struck Mr. Lovatt, +I asked Jesus to forgive me, and he did. I know he did. I used to be +in passions very often, and he helped me when I asked him; and now he +makes me better; and he'll forgive you too, and make you better."</p> + +<p>"I fear there can be no forgiveness for me, Bessie. I have lived seven +times as long as you, my child, and all that time, I have been sinning +and sinning. I have driven God from me, and hardened my heart against +the Lord Jesus. I would not even let any one speak to me of him."</p> + +<p>"Never matter," said Bessie, tenderly. "I don't mean never matter, +'cause it is matter. But he will forgive that when he sees you are +so sorry, and he will be sorry for you; and he does love you. If he +didn't love you, he couldn't come to die for you, so his Father could +forgive you, and take you to heaven. There's a verse, I know, about +that; mamma<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> teached it to me a good while ago. It hangs in our nursery +just like a picture, all in pretty bright letters; and we have 'Suffer +little children,' too. It is 'God so loved the world that he gave his +only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, +but have eternal life.' Mamma says the world means everybody."</p> + +<p>"Could you find that verse for me, Bessie?" asked the colonel.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir; I can't find things in the Bible,—only a few; but +Jesus said it to a man named Nicodemus, who came to him and wanted to +be teached. He'll teach you, too, out of his Bible. Oh, wont you ask +him?"</p> + +<p>"I will try, darling," he said.</p> + +<p>"I'll get your Bible, and we'll see if we can find that verse," said +Bessie. "Where is your Bible?"</p> + +<p>"I have none," he answered; "at least, I have one somewhere at home, I +believe, but I do not know where it is. My mother gave it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> to me, but I +have never read it since I was a boy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, here's Mrs. Yush's on the table," said Bessie; "she always keeps +it on the window-seat, and she always made me put it back there; but I +s'pose she forgot and left it here."</p> + +<p>She brought the Bible, and sat down by the colonel.</p> + +<p>"I can find, 'Suffer little children,'" she said, turning to the +eighteenth chapter of Matthew. "I can yead you a little bit, if you +tell me the big words: 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and +forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' Isn't it sweet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and I can believe it," he said, laying his hand on Bessie's head; +"of such is the kingdom of heaven."</p> + +<p>Bessie turned to the fifteenth chapter of Luke. "Here's about the +prodigal son," she said, "but it's too long for me. Will you please +yead it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span></p> + +<p>He took the Bible from her, and read the chapter very slowly and +thoughtfully, reading the parable a second time. Then he turned the +leaves over, stopping now and then to read a verse to himself.</p> + +<p>"If you want what Jesus said to Nicodemus, look there," said Bessie, +pointing to the headings of the chapters.</p> + +<p>He soon found the third of John, and sat for a long time with his eyes +fixed on the sixteenth and seventeenth verses. Bessie sat looking at +him without speaking.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of, my pet?" he asked at last, laying down the +book.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking how you could be so brave when you didn't love Him," +she said "Didn't it make you afraid when you was in a danger?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said; "I hadn't even faith enough to be afraid."</p> + +<p>"And that night didn't you feel afraid you wouldn't go to heaven when +you died?"</p> + +<p>"The thought would come sometimes, Bessie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> but I put it from me, as I +had done all my life. I tried to think only of home and Marion and my +sister. Will you say that hymn again for me, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Shall I say, 'I need thee, precious Jesus'?" she asked, after she had +again repeated, "I was a wandering sheep;" "I think you do need our +precious Jesus."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, and she said for him, "I need thee, precious Jesus."</p> + +<p>"Shall I ask papa to come and see you, and tell you about Jesus?" she +said, when her father and mother stopped for her on their way from +church. "I am so little, I don't know much, but he knows a great deal."</p> + +<p>"No, dear, I want no better teacher than I have had," said Colonel Rush.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>But the colonel only kissed her, and told her not to keep her father +and mother waiting; and so she went away.</p> + +<p>But that afternoon there came a little note to Mr. Bradford from Mrs. +Rush:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Friend</span>,—</p> + +<p>"Can you come to my husband? He has opened his heart to me, and +asked for you.</p> + +<p class="author">"<span class="smcap">Marion Rush.</span>"</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Bradford went over directly.</p> + +<p>The colonel looked pale and worn, and had a tired, anxious expression +in his eye. But after Mr. Bradford came in, he talked of everything but +that of which he was thinking so much, though it seemed as if he did +not feel a great deal of interest in what he was saying. At last his +wife rose to go away, but he called her back, and told her to stay. He +was silent for a little while, till Mr. Bradford laid his hand on his +arm.</p> + +<p>"Rush, my friend," he said, "are you looking for the light?"</p> + +<p>The colonel did not speak for a moment then he said in a low voice,—</p> + +<p>"No; I <i>see</i> the light, but it is too far away I cannot reach to where +its beams may fall upon me. I see it. It was a tiny hand, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> of your +precious little child, which pointed it out, and showed me the way by +which I must go; but my feet have so long trodden the road which leads +to death, that now, when I would set my face the other way, they falter +and stumble. I cannot even stand, much less go forward. Bradford, I am +a far worse cripple there than I am in this outer world."</p> + +<p>"There is one prop which cannot fail you," said Mr. Bradford. "Throw +away all others, and cast yourself upon the almighty arm which is +stretched out to sustain and aid you. You may not see it in the +darkness which is about you, but it is surely there, ready to receive +and uphold you. Only believe, and trust yourself to it, and it will +bear you onwards and upwards to the light, unto the shining of the +perfect day."</p> + +<p>Colonel Rush did not answer, and Mr. Bradford, opening the Bible, read +the 92d and 118th Psalms. Then he chose the chapter which the colonel +and Bessie had read in the morning, and after he had talked a little,</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Marion," said the colonel, after some time, "do you know a hymn +beginning</p> + +<p class="center">'I was a wandering sheep'?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rush; and in her low, sweet voice, she sang it to +him. Next she sang, "Just as I am," twice over,—for he asked for it a +second time,—then both sat silent for a long while.</p> + +<p>The rosy light of the August sunset died out of the west, the evening +star which little Bessie had once said looked "like God's eye taking +care of her when she went to sleep," shone out bright and peaceful; +then, as it grew darker and darker, came forth another and another +star, and looked down on the world which God had loved so much, till +the whole sky was brilliant with them; the soft, cool sea-breeze came +gently in at the windows, bringing with it the gentle plash of the +waves upon the shore, mingled with the chirp of the crickets and the +distant hum of voices from the far end of the piazza; but no one came +near or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> disturbed them; and still the colonel sat with his face turned +towards the sea, without either speaking or moving, till his wife, as +she sat with her hand in his, wondered if he could be asleep.</p> + +<p>At last he spoke, "Marion."</p> + +<p>"Yes, love."</p> + +<p>"The light is shining all around me, and I can stand in it—with my +hand upon the cross."</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said the colonel, when she came to him the next morning, +"I have found your Saviour. He is my Saviour now, and I shall be his +soldier, and fight for him as long as I shall live."</p> +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1a" id="Page_1a">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<p class="author"> +530 Broadway, New York,</p> +<p class="signat">March, 1884.</p> + +<p class="ph3">ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS</p> + +<p class="ph2">NEW BOOKS.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>HANDS FULL OF HONEY</b>, and other Sermons, preached in 1883, +by <span class="smcap">C. H. Spurgeon</span>. 12mo. $1.00.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>THE PRESENT TRUTH.</b> New Sermons by <span class="smcap">C. H. Spurgeon</span>. +12mo. $1.00.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="sermons"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sermons.</span> 10 vols. 12mo.</td><td align="right">$10.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Any volume sold separately at</i> $1.00.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Morning by Morning.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Evening by Evening.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Types and Emblems.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Saint and Saviour.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Feathers for Arrows.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lectures to Students.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Spurgeon's Gems.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Commenting and Commentaries.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">John Ploughman's Talk.</span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">John Ploughman's Pictures.</span> 16mo</td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">John Ploughman's Talk and Pictures.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Gleanings among the Sheaves.</span> 18mo</td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><b>THE LIFE AND WORKS OF THOMAS GUTHRIE, D.D.</b> New, neat, and +very cheap edition. 11 vols. $10.00.<br /><br /> + +Or, separately, as follows:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="guthrie"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Guthrie's Autobiography and Life.</span> 2 vols. 12mo</td><td align="right">$2.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Gospel in Ezekiel.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Saint's Inheritance.</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Way to Life.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">On the Parables.</span> Illustrated.</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The City and Ragged Schools.</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Man and the Gospel, and Our Father's Business.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In 1 vol. 12mo</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Speaking to the Heart.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Out of Harness.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Studies of Character.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2a" id="Page_2a">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><b>WORKS OF THE REV. T. L. CUYLER, D.D.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="cuyler"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Empty Crib.</span> 24mo, gilt</td><td align="right">$1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Stray Arrows.</span> 18mo</td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Cedar Christian.</span> 18mo</td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Thought Hives.</span> With Portrait. 12mo</td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Pointed Papers.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">From the Nile to Norway.</span> 12mo</td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">God's Light on Dark Clouds.</span> 18mo</td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="hang"><b>* A. L. O. E. LIBRARY.</b> New and very beautiful edition. +Complete in 50 volumes. 16mo, crimson cloth. Put up in a neat +wooden case. <i>Net</i>, $28.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">The volumes are sold separately at 80 cents each.</span></p> + +<p class="hang"><b>* OLIVE LIBRARY.</b> 40 large 16mo volumes, containing 15,340 +pages, in a neat wooden case. <i>Net</i> (no discount to S. S. +Libraries), $25.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>INFORMATION AND ILLUSTRATION</b> for Sermons and Addresses. By +<span class="smcap">G. S. Bowes</span>. 12mo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>THE PUBLIC MINISTRY AND PASTORAL METHODS OF OUR LORD.</b> By +<span class="smcap">W. G. Blaikie</span>, D.D. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>PHILOSOPHY AND CHRISTIANITY.</b> By Prof. <span class="smcap">George S. +Morris</span>. 12mo. $1.75.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>HOW SHALL I GO TO GOD?</b> By <span class="smcap">Horatius Bonar</span>, D.D. +18mo. 40 cents.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>THE HUMAN MIND.</b> By <span class="smcap">Edward J. Hamilton</span>, D.D. 8vo. +$3.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>MOSES AND THE PROPHETS.</b> By Dr. <span class="smcap">W. H. Green</span>. 12mo. +$1.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES</b>: Their Claims, History, and +Authority. By <span class="smcap">A. H. Charteris</span>, D.D. 8vo. $2.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>THE LIFE AND LABORS OF ROBERT MOFFAT</b>, Missionary to Africa. +12mo. $1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>ARNOT ON THE PARABLES.</b> New edition, 12mo. $1.75.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3a" id="Page_3a">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<p class="hang"><b>FROM YEAR TO YEAR.</b> Hymns and Poems. By the Rev. <span class="smcap">E. H. +Bickersteth</span>. 18mo. $1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>FAITH THURSTON'S WORK.</b> By the author of "Win and Wear." +12mo. $1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>THROUGH THE NARROWS.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. W. Everts</span>, D.D. 16mo. +60 cents.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>HAUSSER'S PERIOD OF THE REFORMATION.</b> New edition. 12mo. +$2.50.</p> + +<p class="center"><b>J. M. DRINKWATER CONKLIN'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="drnkwtr"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rue's Helps</span></td><td align="right">$1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Electa: A Story</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Fifteen</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Bek's First Corner</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Miss Prudence</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Only Ned</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Not Bread Alone</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Fred and Jeanie</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>AGNES GIBERNE'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="giberne"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Aimee: A Tale of James II.</span></td><td align="right">$1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Day Star; or, Gospel Stories</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Curate's Home</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Floss Silverthorn</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Coulyng Castle</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Muriel Bertram</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Sun, Moon, and Stars</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The World's Foundations</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Duties and Duties</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Through the Linn</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sweetbriar</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jacob Witherby</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Decima's Promise</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Twilight Talks</span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Kathleen</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>EMILY SARAH HOLT'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="holt"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Isoult Barry</span></td><td align="right">$1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Robin Tremayne</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Well in the Desert</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ashcliffe Hall</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Verena: A Tale</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The White Rose of Langley</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Imogen</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Clare Avery</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lettice Eden</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">For the Master's Sake</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Margery's Son</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lady Sybil's Choice</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Maiden's Lodge</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Earl Hubert's Daughter</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joyce Morrell's Harvest</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">At ye Grene Griffin</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Red and White</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Not for Him</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Wearyholme</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Way of the Cross</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4a" id="Page_4a">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><b>EMMA MARSHALL'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="marshall"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Poppies and Pansies</span></td><td align="right">$1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dewdrops and Diamonds</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rex and Regina</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dayspring</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ruby and Pearl</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Chip of the Old Block</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Framilode Hall</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Violet and Lily Series.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6 vols., 16mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">3.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sir Valentine's Victory</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Matthew Frost</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Stellafont Abbey</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Little Peat Cutters</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Roger's Apprenticeship</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Katie's Work</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Consideration for Others</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Little Primrose</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Two Margarets</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Primrose Series.</b> The above<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6 vols., 18mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">3.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Between the Cliffs</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Little Brothers and Sisters</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Stories of the Cathedral Cities</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="hang"><b>THE EMPEROR'S BOYS.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ismay Thorn.</span> $1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>WILD HYACINTHS.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lady Hope.</span> $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>MARJORIE'S PROBATION.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. S. Ranking.</span> $1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>THE CAGED LINNET.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Stanley Leathes.</span> $1.25.</p> + +<p class="center"><b>SUSAN WARNER'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="swarner"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">My Desire</span></td><td align="right">$1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">End of a Coil</span></td><td align="right">1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Letter of Credit</span></td><td align="right">1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nobody</span></td><td align="right">1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Stephen, M.D.</span></td><td align="right">1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Old Helmet</span></td><td align="right">2.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Melbourne House</span></td><td align="right">2.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Pine Needles</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>King's People, The</b> 5 vols.,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">16mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">7.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Walks from Eden</span></span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">House of Israel</span></span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Star Out of Jacob</span></span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Kingdom of Judah</span></span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Broken Walls of Jerusalem</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>A Story of Small Beginnings.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4 vols., 16mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">5.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">What She Could</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Opportunities</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">The House in Town</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Trading</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>The Say and Do Series.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6 vols., 16mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Little Camp on Eagle Hill</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Willow Brook</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Sceptres and Crowns</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">A Flag of Truce</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Bread and Oranges</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Rapids of Niagara</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5a" id="Page_5a">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><b>ANNA B. WARNER'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="abwarner"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Blue Flag</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Tired Church Members</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Bag of Stories</span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Little Jack's Four Lessons</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Stories of Vinegar Hill.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3 vols., 16mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">3.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Ellen Montgomery's Book-Shelf.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5 vols., 16mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">5.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Mr. Rutherford's Children</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Sybil and Chryssa</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Hard Maple</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Carl Krinken</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Casper and His Friends</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>DR. RICHARD NEWTON'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="rnewton"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Best Things</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King's Highway</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Safe Compass</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Bible Blessings</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Great Pilot</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Bible Jewels</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Bible Wonders</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nature's Wonders</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Leaves from the Tree</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rills from the Fountain</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Jewish Tabernacle</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Giants, and Wonderful Things</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rays from the Sun of Righteousness</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King in His Beauty</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Pebbles from the Brook</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Covenant Names and Privileges</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>REV. W. W. NEWTON'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="wwnewton"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Little and Wise</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Wicket Gate</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Interpreter's House</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Palace Beautiful</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR OF "WIN AND WEAR."</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="winwear"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Win and Wear Series.</span> 6 vols. 16mo</td><td align="right">$7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Green Mountain Stories.</span> 5 vols. 16mo</td><td align="right">6.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ledgeside Series.</span> 6 vols. 16mo</td><td align="right">7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Faith Thurston's Work</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Highland Series.</span> 6 vols. 16mo</td><td align="right">7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Hester Trueworthy's Royalty</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mabel's Stepmother</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Butterfly's Flights.</span> 3 vols. 18mo</td><td align="right">2.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>JULIA MATHEWS' BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="jmathews"> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Drayton Hall Series.</b> 6 vols.</td><td align="right">$4.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Lawrence Bronson's Victory</span></span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Christy's Grandson</span></span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Allan Haywood</span></span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Frank Austin's Diamond</span></span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Eagle Crag</span></span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6a" id="Page_6a">[Pg 6]</a></span> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">True to His Flag</span></span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Golden Ladder Series.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3 vols. 16mo</span></td><td align="right">3.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Dare to Do Right.</b> 5 vols. 16mo</td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Grandfather's Faith</span></span></td><td align="right">1.10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Our Four Boys</span></span></td><td align="right">1.10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Giuseppe's Home</span></span></td><td align="right">1.10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Nellie's Stumbling-Block</span></span></td><td align="right">1.10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Susy's Sacrifice</span></span></td><td align="right">1.10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Katy and Jim</span>, containing<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Little Katy</span>" and</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Jolly and Katy</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>JOANNA H. MATHEWS' BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="jhmathews"> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Bessie Books.</b> 6 vols., 16mo,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">in a box</span></td><td align="right">$7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">At the Seaside</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">In the City</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">And her Friends</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Among the Mountains</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">At School</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">On her Travels</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Flowerets.</b> 6 vols., 18mo, in a box</td><td align="right">3.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Little Sunbeams.</b> 6 vols.,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">16mo., in a box</span></td><td align="right">6.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Belle Powers' Locket</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Dora's Motto</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Lily Norris' Enemy</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Jessie's Parrot</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Mamie's Watchword</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Nellie's Housekeeping</span></span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Kitty and Lulu Books.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6 vols., 18mo, in a box</span></td><td align="right">3.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Miss Ashton's Girls.</b> 6 vols.</td><td align="right">7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Fanny's Birthday Gift</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">The New Scholars</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Rosalie's Pet</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Eleanor's Visit</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Mabel Walton's Experiment</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Elsie's Santa Claus</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Haps and Mishaps.</b> 6 vols.</td><td align="right">7.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Little Friends at Glenwood</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">The Broken Mallet</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Blackberry Jam</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Milly's Whims</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Lilies or Thistledown</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Uncle Joe's Thanksgiving</span></span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>CATHERINE SHAW'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="cshaw"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Gabled Farm</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nellie Arundel</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">In the Sunlight</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Hilda.</span> 12 mo</td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Only a Cousin</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Out in the Storm</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Alick's Hero</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>EMILY BRODIE'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="ebrodie"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jean Lindsay</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dora Hamilton's Choice</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elsie Gordon</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Uncle Fred's Shilling</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lonely Jack</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ruth's Rescue</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nora Clinton</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7a" id="Page_7a">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><b>L. T. MEADE'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="ltmeade"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Scamp and I</span></td><td align="right">$1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David's Little Lad</span></td><td align="right">1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Knight of To-day</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Water Gipsies</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Your Brother and Mine</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Bel-Marjory</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dot and her Treasures</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Children's Kingdom</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Andrew Harvey's Wife</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nora Crena</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mother Herring's Chicken</span></td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>PEEP OF DAY LIBRARY.</b> 8 vols. 18mo. $4.50.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="peep"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Line upon Line</span></td><td align="right">$ .50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Precept upon Precept</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Kings of Israel</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Kings of Judah</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Captivity of Judah</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Peep of Day</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sequel to Peep of Day</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Story of the Apostles</span></td><td align="right">.60</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>M. L. CHARLESWORTH'S BOOKS.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chrlswrth"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ministering Children</span></td><td align="right">$1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sequel to Ministering Children</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">England's Yeomen</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Oliver of the Mill</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dorothy Cope</span>, containing<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"<span class="smcap">The Old Looking-Glass</span>"</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and "<span class="smcap">Broken Looking-Glass</span></span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="ph3">DEVOTIONAL BOOKS.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>BICKERSTETH, REV. E. H.</b> <span class="smcap">Yesterday, To-Day, and +Forever.</span> 18mo, 50 cents; 16mo, $1.00; 12mo, $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>BOGATZKY, C. V. H.</b> <span class="smcap">Golden Treasury.</span> 24mo, gilt. 75 +cents.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>BONAR, HORATIUS, D.D.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Hymns of Faith and Hope</span> 3 vols. 18mo, gilt top, $2.25</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Hymns of the Nativity</span> 18mo, gilt, $1.00</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8a" id="Page_8a">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p class="hang"><b>CLARKE'S SCRIPTURE PROMISES.</b> 24mo, red edges. 50 cents.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>DICKSON, REV. ALEXANDER.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">All About Jesus.</span> 12mo, $2.00</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Beauty for Ashes.</span> 12mo, $2.00</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>DYKES, J. OSWALD, D.D.</b> <span class="smcap">Prayers for the Household.</span> +$1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>FAMILY WORSHIP.</b> <span class="smcap">Prayers for Every Day in the Year.</span> +$2.50.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>FLETCHER, ALEXANDER, D.D.</b> <span class="smcap">Family Devotion.</span> Quarto, +gilt. $5.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>JAY, REV. WILLIAM.</b> <span class="smcap">Morning and Evening Exercises.</span> +2 vols. 12mo. $2.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>LOGAN, WILLIAM.</b> <span class="smcap">Word of Comfort to Bereaved +Parents.</span> $1.00.</p> + +<p class="center"><b>MACDUFF, JOHN R., D.D.</b></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="macduff"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Bow in the Cloud.</span> 18mo, limp</td><td align="right">$.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Gates of Prayer.</span> 18mo, limp, red edges</td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mind and Words of Jesus.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">24mo, limp, gilt, 60 cts.; red edges</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Morning and Night Watches.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">24mo, limp, gilt, 60 cts.; red edges</span></td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Family Prayers.</span> 16mo</td><td align="right">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mind and Words of Jesus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and <span class="smcap">Morning and Night Watches</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in 1 vol. 24mo, red-line edition, gilt</span></td><td align="right">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Gleams from the Sick Chamber.</span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Wells of Baca.</span> 24mo, gilt edges</td><td align="right">.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Voices of the Good Shepherd.</span></td><td align="right">.75</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="hang"><b>MORE, HANNAH.</b> <span class="smcap">Private Devotion.</span> 24mo, gilt, 60 +cents; red edges, 50 cents.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS.</b> 8vo. $2.50.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>SMITH, REV. JAMES.</b> <span class="smcap">Daily Remembrancer.</span> 18mo, gilt +edges. $1.00.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>SPURGEON, REV. CHARLES H.</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Morning by Morning.</span> 12mo, $1 00</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Evening by Evening.</span> 12mo, $1.00</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<p class="transnote"><b>Transcriber's Notes</b><br /><br /> + +Minor punctuation errors were silently corrected.<br /><br /> + +Twenty-nine instances of "wont" were retained as dialect or the +author's preference; "won't" was used 13 times.<br /><br /> + +Six instances of "aint" were retained as dialect or the author's +preference; "ain't" was used 2 times.<br /><br /> + +Page <a href="#Page_26">26</a>: "Mary" and "Mamie" are used +interchangeably for the same girl.<br /><br /> + +Page <a href="#Page_216">216</a>: "affghan" may be a typo for "afghan."<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: lay neatly folded, a tiny affghan.)</span><br /> +</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bessie at the Sea-Side, by Joanna Mathews + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE *** + +***** This file should be named 44780-h.htm or 44780-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/7/8/44780/ + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Diane Monico, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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b/old/44780.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8081 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bessie at the Sea-Side, by Joanna Mathews + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bessie at the Sea-Side + +Author: Joanna Mathews + +Release Date: January 28, 2014 [EBook #44780] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Diane Monico, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + + +BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE + + + + +_BOOKS BY JOANNA H. MATHEWS._ + + +I. THE BESSIE BOOKS. + +6 vols. In a box. $7.50. + +SEASIDE $1.25 +CITY 1.25 +FRIENDS 1.25 +MOUNTAINS 1.25 +SCHOOL 1.25 +TRAVELS 1.25 + + +II. THE FLOWERETS + +A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS. + +6 vols. In a box. $3.60. + +VIOLET'S IDOL. +DAISY'S WORK. +ROSE'S TEMPTATION. +LILY'S LESSON. +HYACINTHE AND HER BROTHERS. +PINKIE AND THE RABBITS. + + +III. LITTLE SUNBEAMS. + +6 vols. In a box. $6.00. + +BELLE POWERS' LOCKET. +DORA'S MOTTO. 16mo. +LILY NORRIS' ENEMY. +JESSIE'S PARROT. +MAMIE'S WATCHWORD. +NELLIE'S HOUSEKEEPING. + + +IV. KITTY AND LULU BOOKS. + +6 vols. In a box. $6.00. + +TOUTOU AND PUSSY. +KITTY'S ROBINS. +THE WHITE RABBIT. +RUDIE'S GOAT. +KITTY'S VISIT. +KITTY'S SCRAP-BOOK. + + +V. MISS ASHTON'S GIRLS. + +1. FANNY'S BIRTHDAY $1.25 +2. THE NEW SCHOLARS 1.25 +3. ROSALIE'S PET 1.25 +4. ELEANOR'S VISIT 1.25 +5. MABEL WALTON 1.25 + + +VI. HAPS AND MISHAPS. + +6 vols. In a box. $7.50. + +1. LITTLE FRIENDS $1.25 +2. THE BROKEN MALLET 1.25 +3. BLACKBERRY JAM 1.25 +4. MILLY'S WHIMS 1.25 +5. LILIES AND THISTLEDOWN 1.25 +6. UNCLE JOE'S THANKSGIVING 1.25 + + +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, + +_New York_. + +[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE. + +Bessie at Sea Side.] + + + + +_BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE._ + +_BY_ + +_JOANNA H. MATHEWS_ + +"And a Little Child shall lead them." + +_NEW YORK: +Robert Carter & Brothers_, +530 BROADWAY. + + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for +the Southern District of New York. + + + + +To my dear Mother, + +_Whose "children arise up and call her blessed,"_ + +IS THIS LITTLE VOLUME + +_Lovingly and gratefully dedicated_ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + +_I. The Sea-Shore_, 7 + +_II. Old Friends and New_, 21 + +_III. The Letter_, 34 + +_IV. The Quarrel_, 50 + +_V. Tom's Sunday-School_, 61 + +_VI. The Post-Office_, 75 + +_VII. A New Friend_, 96 + +_VIII. Bessie's Little Sermon_, 113 + +_IX. Faith_, 122 + +_X. The Sick Baby_, 135 + +_XI. The Happy Circumstance_, 147 + +_XII. Miss Adams_, 157 + +_XIII. Bessie's Repentance_, 167 + +_XIV. Who is a Lady?_ 180 + +_XV. Uncle John_, 194 + +_XVI. The Birthday Presents_, 209 + +_XVII. The Birthday Party_, 226 + +_XVIII. The Adventure_, 247 + +_XIX. Soul and Instinct_, 265 + +_XX. Nurse taken by Surprise_, 281 + +_XXI. The Colonel in Trouble_, 305 + +_XXII. The Broken Nose_, 320 + +_XXIII. Jesus' Soldier_, 335 + + + + +_BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE._ + + + + +I. + +_THE SEA-SHORE._ + + +The hotel carriage rolled away from Mr. Bradford's door with papa and +mamma, the two nurses and four little children inside, and such a lot +of trunks and baskets on the top; all on their way to Quam Beach. Harry +and Fred, the two elder boys, were to stay with grandmamma until their +school was over; and then they also were to go to the sea-side. + +The great coach carried them across the ferry, and then they all jumped +out and took their seats in the cars. It was a long, long ride, and +after they left the cars there were still three or four miles to go +in the stage, so that it was quite dark night when they reached Mrs. +Jones's house. Poor little sick Bessie was tired out, and even Maggie, +who had enjoyed the journey very much, thought that she should be glad +to go to bed as soon as she had had her supper. It was so dark that the +children could not see the ocean, of which they had talked and thought +so much; but they could hear the sound of the waves as they rolled up +on the beach. There was a large hotel at Quam, but Mrs. Bradford did +not choose to go there with her little children; and so she had hired +all the rooms that Mrs. Jones could spare in her house. The rooms were +neat and clean, but very plain, and not very large, and so different +from those at home that Maggie thought she should not like them at all. +In that which was to be the nursery was a large, four-post bedstead +in which nurse and Franky were to sleep; and beside it stood an +old-fashioned trundle-bed, which was for Maggie and Bessie. Bessie was +only too glad to be put into it at once, but Maggie looked at it with +great displeasure. + +"I sha'n't sleep in that nasty bed," she said. "Bessie, don't do it." + +"Indeed," said nurse, "it's a very nice bed; and if you are going to be +a naughty child, better than you deserve. That's a great way you have +of calling every thing that don't just suit you, 'nasty.' I'd like to +know where you mean to sleep, if you don't sleep there." + +"I'm going to ask mamma to make Mrs. Jones give us a better one," said +Maggie; and away she ran to the other room where mamma was undressing +the baby. "Mamma," she said, "won't you make Mrs. Jones give us a +better bed? That's just a kind of make-believe bed that nurse pulled +out of the big one, and I know I can't sleep a wink in it." + +"I do not believe that Mrs. Jones has another one to give us, dear," +said her mother. "I know it is not so pretty as your little bed at +home, but I think you will find it very comfortable. When I was a +little girl, I always slept in a trundle-bed, and I never rested +better. If you do not sleep a wink, we will see what Mrs. Jones can do +for us to-morrow; but for to-night I think you must be contented with +that bed; and if my little girl is as tired as her mother, she will be +glad to lie down anywhere." + +Maggie had felt like fretting a little; but when she saw how pale and +tired her dear mother looked, she thought she would not trouble her by +being naughty, so she put up her face for another good-night kiss, and +ran back to the nursery. + +"O, Maggie," said Bessie, "this bed is yeal nice and comf'able; come +and feel it." So Maggie popped in between the clean white sheets, +and in two minutes she had forgotten all about the trundle-bed and +everything else. + +When Bessie woke up the next morning, she saw Maggie standing by the +open window, in her night-gown, with no shoes or stockings on. "O, +Maggie," she said, "mamma told us not to go bare-feeted, and you are." + +"I forgot," said Maggie; and she ran back to the bed and jumped in +beside Bessie. "Bessie, there's such lots and lots of water out there! +You never saw so much, not even in the reservoir at the Central Park." + +"I guess it's the sea," said Bessie; "don't you know mamma said we +would see water and water ever so far, and we couldn't see the end of +it?" + +"But I do see the end of it," said Maggie; "mamma was mistaken. I saw +where the sky came down and stopped the sea; and, Bessie, I saw such a +wonderful thing,--the sun came right up out of the water." + +"O, Maggie, it couldn't; _you_ was mistaken. If it went in the water it +would be put out." + +"I don't care," said Maggie, "it _was_ the sun, and it is shining right +there now. It isn't put out a bit. I woke up and I heard that noise +mamma told us was the waves, and I wanted to see them, so I went to +look, and over there in the sky was a beautiful red light; and in a +minute I saw something bright coming out of the water away off; and it +came higher and higher, and got so bright I could not look at it, and +it was the sun, I know it was." + +"But, Maggie, how didn't it get put out if it went in the water?" + +"I don't know," said Maggie, "I'm going to ask papa." + +Just then nurse and Jane came in with water for the children's bath, +and before they were dressed, there was papa at the door asking if +there were any little girls ready to go on the beach and find an +appetite for breakfast. After that, nurse could scarcely dress them +fast enough, and in a few moments they were ready to run down to the +front porch where papa was waiting for them. + +"O, papa, what a great, great water the sea is!" said Bessie. + +"Yes, dear; and what a great and wise God must He be who made this wide +sea and holds it in its place, and lets it come no farther than He +wills." + +"Papa," said Maggie, "I saw the wonderfulest thing this morning." + +"The most wonderful," said her father. + +"The most wonderful," repeated Maggie. "It was indeed, papa, and you +need not think I was mistaken, for I am quite, quite sure I saw it." + +"And what was this most wonderful thing you are so very sure you saw, +Maggie?" + +"It was the sun, papa, coming right up out of the water, and it was not +put out a bit. It came up, up, away off there, where the sky touches +the water. Mamma said we could not see the end of the ocean, but I see +it quite well. Do not you see it, too, papa?" + +"I see what appears to be the end of the ocean, but these great waters +stretch away for many hundred miles farther. If you were to get on a +ship and sail away as far as you can see from here, you would still +see just as much water before you, and the sea and the sky would still +appear to touch each other: and however far you went it would always be +so, until you came where the land bounds the ocean on the other side. +The place where the sky and water seem to meet, is called the horizon; +and it is because they do seem to touch, that the sun appeared to +you to come out of the water. It is rather a difficult thing for such +little girls as you and Bessie to understand, but I will try to make +it plain to you. You know that the earth is round, like a ball, do you +not, Maggie?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"And I suppose that you think that the sun is moving when it seems to +come up in the morning, and goes on and on, till it is quite over our +heads, and then goes down on the other side of the sky until we can see +it no more, do you not?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"But it is really the earth on which we live, and not the sun, which is +moving. Once in twenty-four hours, which makes one day and one night, +the earth turns entirely round, so that a part of the time one side is +turned to the sun, and a part of the time the other side. See if you +can find me a small, round stone, Maggie." + +Maggie looked around till she found such a stone as her father wanted, +and brought it to him. "Now," he said, "this stone shall be our earth, +and this scratch the place where we live. We will take off Bessie's hat +and have that for the sun. Now I will hold the mark which stands for +our home, directly in front of our make-believe sun. If a bright light +were coming from the sun and shining on our mark here, it would be the +middle of the day or noon, while it would be dark on the other side. +Then, as our earth moved slowly around in this way, and we turned from +the sun it would become afternoon; and as we turned farther yet till +we were quite away from the sun, it would be night. But we do not stay +there in the dark, for we still go moving slowly round until our side +of the earth comes towards the light again, and the darkness begins to +pass away. The nearer we come to the sun the lighter it grows, until, +if some little girl who lives on our scratch is up early enough and +looks out at the horizon, or place where the earth and sky seem to +meet, she sees the sun showing himself little by little; and it looks +to her as if he were coming up out of the sea, while all the time the +sun is standing still, and the earth on which we live is moving round +so as to bring her once more opposite to him." + +"And is it night on the other side of the world?" asked Maggie. + +"Yes, there is no sun there now, and it is dark night for the little +children who live there." + +"And are they going to have their supper while we have our brefix?" +asked Bessie. + +"Just about so, I suppose," said papa. + +"But, papa," said Maggie with very wide open eyes, "do you mean that +the world is going to turn way over on the other side tonight?" + +"Yes, dear." + +"Then we will fall off," said Maggie. + +"Did you fall off last night?" asked papa. + +"No, sir." + +"And you have been living for nearly seven years, and every day of your +life the earth has turned around in the same way, and you have never +yet fallen off, have you?" + +"No, papa." + +"Nor will you to-night, my little girl. The good and wise God who has +made our earth to move in such a way as to give us both light and +darkness as we need them, has also given to it a power to draw towards +itself, all things that live or grow upon its surface. Do you know what +surface means?" + +"Yes, papa,--the top." + +"Yes, or the outside. Suppose you were to fall off the top of the +house, Maggie, where would you fall to?" + +"Down in the street and be killed," said Maggie. + +"Yes, down to the street or ground, and probably you would be killed. +And it is because of this power which the earth has of drawing to +itself all things that are upon it, that you would not fly off into the +air and keep on falling, falling, for no one knows how many miles. It +is too hard a thing for you to understand much about now, but when you +are older you shall learn more. But we have had a long enough lesson +for this morning. We will walk about a little, and see if we can find +some shells before we go in to breakfast." + +They found a good many shells: some little black ones which Maggie +called curlecues, and some white on the outside and pink inside. Then +there were a few which were fluted, which the children said were the +prettiest of all. They thought the beach was the best playground they +had ever seen, and they were about right. First, there was the strip +of smooth, white sand, on which the waves were breaking into beautiful +snowy foam, with such a pleasant sound; then came another space full of +pebbles and stones and sea-weed, with a few shells and here and there +a great rock; then more rocks and stones with a coarse kind of grass +growing between them; and beyond these, a few rough fir trees which +looked as if they found it hard work to grow there. Last of all was a +long, sloping bank, on top of which stood Mr. Jones's house and two or +three others; and farther down the shore, the great hotel. And the air +was so fresh and cool, with such a pleasant smell of the salt water. + +Maggie was full of fun and spirits, and raced about till her cheeks +were as red as roses. There were several other people on the beach, and +among them were some little boys and girls. Two or three of these, when +they saw Maggie running about in such glee began to race with her, but +the moment she noticed them she became shy and ran away from them to +her father and Bessie who were walking quietly along. + +"Papa," said Bessie "isn't it delicious?" + +"Is not what delicious, my darling." + +"I don't know," said Bessie. "_It._ I like Quam Beach, papa. I wish New +York was just like this." + +"It is this cool, fresh sea-breeze that you like so much, Bessie." + +"And I like to see the water, papa, and to hear the nice noise it +makes." + +"Yes, it's so pleasant here," said Maggie. "Let's stay here always, +papa, and never go home." + +"What! and sleep in the trundle-bed all your lives?" said papa. + +"Oh, no," said Maggie, "I hate that bed. I believe I _did_ sleep a +little bit last night, because I was so tired; but I know I can't sleep +in it to-night." + +"Well," said papa, "I think we will try it for a night or two longer." + +And then they all went in to breakfast. + + + + +II. + +OLD FRIENDS AND NEW. + + +After breakfast they went out again. Mr. Bradford and his little girls +were standing in the porch waiting for mamma who was going with them, +when Mr. Jones came up from the shore. He had been fishing, and looked +rather rough and dirty, but he had a pleasant, good-natured face. + +"Mornin' sir," he said to Mr. Bradford; "folks pretty spry?" + +"Pretty well, thank you," said Mr. Bradford; "you have been out early +this morning." + +"Yes, I'm generally stirrin' round pretty early; been out since afore +day-light. S'pose these are your little girls. How are you, Miss +Bradford?" he said, holding out his hand. + +But shy Maggie hung her head and drew a little away behind her father. + +"Why, Maggie," said Mr. Bradford, "you are not polite; shake hands +with Mr. Jones, my daughter." + +"Not if she hain't a mind to," said Mr. Jones. "I see she's a bashful +puss, but she'll feel better acquainted one of these days." + +"Yes, she will;" said Bessie, "and then she won't be shy with you; but +I'm not shy now, and I'll shake hands with you." + +Mr. Jones took the tiny little hand she offered him with a smile. + +"No, I see you ain't shy, and I don't want you to be; you, nor your +sister neither. Goin' down to the shore, eh?" + +"Yes, when mamma comes," said Bessie. + +"Well, you see that big barn out there; when you come back you both +come out there. You'll find me inside, and I'll show you something will +soon cure all shyness; that is, if you like it as much as most young +folks do." + +"What is it?" asked Bessie. + +"It's a scup." + +"Will it bite?" said Bessie. + +"Bite! Don't you know what a scup is?" + +"She knows it by the name of a swing," said Mr. Bradford. + +"Oh, yes! I know a swing; and I like it too. We'll come, Mr. Jones." + +"Is it quite safe for them?" asked Mr. Bradford. + +"Quite safe, sir. I put it up last Summer for some little people who +were staying here; and Sam, he's my eldest son, he made a seat with +back and arms, and a rung along the front to keep them in,--a fall on +the barn floor wouldn't feel good, that's a fact; but it's as safe as +strong ropes and good work can make it. I'll take care they don't get +into no mischief with it; but come along with the little ones and see +for yourself." And then with a nod to Maggie, who was peeping at him +out of the corners of her eyes, Mr. Jones took up his basket of fish +and walked away to the kitchen. + +"Bessie," said Maggie, as they went down to the beach, "do you like +that man?" + +"Yes, I do," said Bessie; "don't you?" + +"No, not much. But, Bessie, did you hear what he called me?" + +"No," said Bessie, "I did not hear him call you anything." + +"He called me Miss Bradford," said Maggie, holding up her head and +looking very grand. + +"Well," said Bessie, "I suppose he was mad because you wouldn't shake +hands with him." + +"No," said Maggie, "it was before that; he said, 'how do you do, Miss +Bradford;' and, Bessie, I like to be called Miss Bradford; and I guess +I'll like him because he did it, even if he _does_ smell of fish. I +think he only wanted to be _respectable_ to me." + +They found a good many people upon the beach now, and among them were +some ladies and gentlemen whom Mr. and Mrs. Bradford knew, and while +they stopped to speak to them, Maggie and Bessie wandered off a little +way, picking up shells and sea-weed and putting them into a basket +which their mother had given them. + +Presently a boy and girl came up to them. They were the children of one +of the ladies who was talking to Mrs. Bradford, and their mother had +sent them to make acquaintance with Maggie and Bessie. + +"What's your name," said the boy, coming right up to Maggie. Maggie +looked at him without speaking, and, putting both hands behind her, +began slowly backing away from him. + +"I say," said the boy, "what's your name? My mother sent us to make +friends with you; but we can't do it, if you won't tell us what your +name is." + +"Her name is Miss Bradford," said Bessie, who wanted to please her +sister, and who herself thought it rather fine for Maggie to be called +Miss Bradford. + +"Oh! and you're another Miss Bradford, I suppose," said the boy, +laughing. + +"Why! so I am," said Bessie; "I didn't think about that before. Maggie +we're two Miss Bradfords." + +"Well, two Miss Bradfords, I hope we find you pretty well this morning. +My name is Mr. Stone, and my sister's is Miss Stone." + +"'Tain't," said the little girl, crossly, "it's nothing but Mary." + +"Sure enough," said her brother; "she's just Miss Mary, quite contrary; +whatever you say, she'll say just the other thing; that's her way." + +"Now, Walter, you stop," said Mary in a whining, fretful voice. + +"Now, Mamie, you stop," mimicked her brother. + +"I think we wont be acquainted with you," said Bessie. "I am afraid you +are not very good children." + +"What makes you think so," asked Walter. + +"'Cause you quarrel," said Bessie; "good children don't quarrel, and +Jesus won't love you if you do." + +"What a funny little tot you are," said Walter. "I won't quarrel with +you, but Mamie is so cross I can't help quarrelling with her. I like +girls, and I want to play with you, and your sister, too, if she'll +speak. I have a splendid wagon up at the hotel and I'll bring it and +give you a first-rate ride if you like. Come, let us make friends, and +tell me your first name, Miss Bradford, No. 2." + +"It's Bessie, and my sister's is Maggie." + +"And don't you and Maggie ever quarrel?" + +"Why, no," said Maggie, coming out of her shy fit when she heard this, +"Bessie is my own little sister." + +"Well, and Mamie is my own sister, and you see we quarrel for all that. +But never mind that now. I'll go for my wagon and give you a ride; will +you like it?" + +"I will," said Bessie. + +In a few minutes Walter came back with his wagon. Maggie and Bessie +thought he was quite right when he called it splendid. They told him +it was the prettiest wagon they had ever seen. He said he would give +Bessie the first ride, and he lifted her in and told Maggie and Mamie +to push behind. + +"I sha'n't," said Mamie; "I want a ride, too; there's plenty of room, +Bessie's so little." + +"No, it will make it too heavy," said Walter. "You shall ride when your +turn comes." + +Mamie began to cry, and Bessie said she would get out and let her ride +first; but Walter said she should not. + +"There comes Tom," said Mamie; "he'll help you pull." + +The children looked around, and there was a boy rather larger than +Walter coming towards them. + +"Why, it's Tom Norris!" said Maggie; "do you know him?" + +And sure enough it was their own Tom Norris, whom they loved so much. +He ran up to them and kissed Maggie and Bessie, as if he were very glad +to see them. + +"Why, Tom," said Bessie, "I didn't know you came here." + +"I came night before last, with father," said Tom. "We came to take +rooms at the hotel, and I wanted to stay; so father left me with Mrs. +Stone, and he has gone home for mother and Lily, and the whole lot and +scot of them; they're all coming to-morrow." + +"Oh! I am so glad," said Maggie. + +"Tom! can't I ride?" asked Mamie. + +"You must ask Walter," said Tom; "the wagon is his; what are you crying +about, Mamie?" + +Walter told what the trouble was. + +"Come, now, Mamie, be good, and you shall ride with Bessie, and I will +help Walter pull." Mamie was put into the seat by Bessie, and then Tom +said they must find room for Maggie, too. So he made her sit on the +bottom of the wagon, and off they started. Of course they were crowded, +but the two children who were good-natured did not mind that at all, +and would have been quite happy had it not been for Mamie. She fretted +and complained so much that at last the boys were out of patience and +took her out of the wagon. + +"You see," said Walter, as the cross, selfish child went off screaming +to her mother, "Mamie is the only girl, and the youngest, and she has +been so spoiled there is no living with her." + +They were all happier when she had gone, and had a nice long play +together. + +Tom Norris was twelve years old, but he did not think himself too large +to play with or amuse such little girls as Maggie and Bessie, who were +only seven and five; and as he was always kind and good to them, they +loved him dearly. Grown people liked him too, and said he was a perfect +little gentleman. But Tom was better than that, for he was a true +Christian; and it was this which made him so kind and polite to every +one. + +When Mr. Bradford came to call his little girls to go home, he found +them telling Tom and Walter about the swing which Mr. Jones had +promised them, and he invited the boys to go with them and see it. So +they all went back together. + +When they reached home Mr. Bradford told them they might go on to +the barn while he went into the house for a few minutes. The great +barn-doors were open, and Mr. Jones and his son, Sam, were busy inside. +Just outside the door sat Mrs. Jones with a pan full of currants in +her lap which she was stringing. There was a sheep skin on the ground +beside her, and on it sat her fat baby, Susie. Two kittens were playing +on the grass a little way off, and Susie wanted to catch them. She +would roll herself over on her hands and knees, and creep to the edge +of her sheep skin, but just as she reached it her mother's hand would +take her by the waist and lift her back to the place from which she +started. Susie would sit still for a moment, as if she was very much +astonished, and then try again, always to be pulled back to the old +spot. But when she saw Maggie and Bessie she forgot the kittens and sat +quite still with her thumb in her mouth staring at them with her great +blue eyes. + +"Mr. Jones," said Bessie, "these are our friends. One is an old friend, +and his name is Tom; and one is a new friend, and his name is Walter. +They have come to see that thing you don't call a swing." + +"They're both welcome if they're friends of yours," said Mr. Jones. +"I'll show you the scup in a few minutes, as soon as I finish this job +I'm about." + +"Mrs. Jones," said Bessie, "is that your baby?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Jones, "what do you think of her?" + +"I think she is fat," answered Bessie. "May we help you do that, Mrs. +Jones?" + +"I'm afraid you'll stain your frocks, and what would your ma say then?" + +"She'd say you oughtn't to let us do it." + +"Just so," said Mrs. Jones. "No, I can't let you help me, but I'll tell +you what I'll do. I am going to make pies out of these currants and +I'll make you each a turnover; sha'n't you like that?" + +"What is a turnover," asked Maggie. + +"Don't you know what a turnover is? You wait and see; you'll like 'em +when you find out. You can play with Susie if you've a mind to." + +But Susie would not play, she only sat and stared at the children, and +sucked her thumb. Pretty soon papa came, and when Mr. Jones was ready +they all went into the barn. + +The swing was fastened up to a hook in the wall, but Mr. Jones soon had +it down; and Mr. Bradford tried it and found it quite safe and strong. +The seat was large enough to hold both the little girls, if they sat +pretty close, so they were both put into it, and papa gave them a fine +swing. Then the boys took their turn; and Mr. Jones told them they +might come and swing as often as they liked. + + + + +III. + +_THE LETTER._ + + +You are not going to hear all that Maggie and Bessie did every day at +the sea-shore, but only a few of the things that happened to them. + +They liked Quam Beach more and more. Maggie did not mind the +trundle-bed so very much after a night or two, though she never seemed +to grow quite used to it; and Bessie, who had been weak and sick when +they left home, became stronger, and was soon able to run about more +with the other children. + +After a few days they began to bathe in the sea. Maggie was afraid at +first, and cried when she was carried into the water; but the second +time she was braver, and she soon came to like it almost as well as +Bessie, who never was ready to come out when it was thought she had +been in long enough. She would beg her father or the bathing-woman to +let her stay just one minute more; and she would laugh when the waves +came dashing over her, so that sometimes the salt water would get into +her little mouth. But she did not mind it, and begged for another and +another wave, until papa would say that it was high time for her to +come out. Mamma said she had never seen Bessie enjoy anything so much, +and it made her feel very happy to see her little girl growing well and +strong again. + +Bessie loved the sea very much, and often when her sister and little +companions were playing, she would sit quietly on some rock, looking +away out over the wide, beautiful waters, or watching and listening to +the waves as they came rolling up on the beach. People who were passing +used to turn and look at her, and smile when they saw the sweet little +face, which looked so grave and wise. But if any stranger asked her +what she was thinking about, she would only say, "Thoughts, ma'am." + +Maggie did not like to sit still as Bessie did. She was well and fat +and rosy, and full of fun when she was with people she knew; and she +liked to play better than to sit on the rocks and watch the water, but +she seldom went far away from Bessie, and was always running to her +with some pretty shell or sea-weed she had found. She and Bessie and +Lily Norris would play in the sand and make little ponds or wells, and +sand pies, or pop the air bags in the sea-weed; or have some other +quiet play which did not tire Bessie. Very often Walter Stone and Tom +Norris gave them a ride in the wagon; or Tom told them nice stories; +and sometimes they all went out on the water in Mr. Jones's boat, or +took a drive with papa and mamma. Before they had been at Quam Beach +many days, they knew quite a number of the children who were staying +there; and they liked almost all of them, except fretful Mamie Stone, +who made herself so disagreeable that no one cared to play with her. In +short, there were so many things to do, and so much to see, that the +day was never long enough for them. + +Then they made friends with Toby, Mr. Jones' great white dog. He was +an ugly old fellow, and rather gruff and unsociable; but, like some +people, he was in reality better than he appeared. He would never allow +any grown person but his master to pet him; and if any one tried to +pat him or make him play, he would walk away and seat himself at a +distance, with an offended air which seemed to say, "What a very silly +person you are; do you not know that I am too grave and wise a dog to +be pleased with such nonsense!" + +But he was not so with little children. Though he would not play, he +let Susie and Franky pull his ears and tail, and roll and tumble over +him as much as they liked without giving them one growl. Maggie and +Bessie were rather afraid of him at first, but they soon found he was +not as fierce as he looked, and after Mr. Jones had told them how +he saved a little boy from drowning the last summer, they liked him +better, and soon came to have no fear of him. + +This boy had been one of those who were boarding in the house last +year, and was a disobedient, mischievous child. One day he wanted to +go down on the beach, but it was not convenient for any one to go with +him, and his mother told him he must wait. He watched till no one saw +him, and then ran off followed by Toby, who seemed to know that he was +in mischief. + +When the child reached the beach, he pulled off his shoes and stockings +and went to the water's edge where the waves could dash over his feet. +He went a little farther and a little farther, till at last a wave came +which was too strong for him. It threw him down and carried him out +into deeper water, and in another minute he would have been beyond help +had not Toby dashed in and seized hold of him. It was hard work for +Toby, for he was not a water-dog; but he held the boy till a man, who +had seen it all, came running to his help and pulled the boy out. + +After this, Toby would never let the child go near the water all the +time he staid at Quam Beach. If he tried to go, Toby would take hold +of his clothes with his teeth, and no coaxings or scoldings would make +him let go till the boy's face was turned the other way. + +Toby was of great use to Mrs. Jones; she said that he was as good as a +nurse. Every day she used to put Susie to sleep in a room at the head +of the garret stairs. Then she would call the dog, and leave him to +take care of the baby while she went about her work; and it seemed as +if Toby knew the right hour for Susie's nap, for he was never out of +the way at that time. He would lie and watch her till she woke up, and +then go to the head of the stairs and bark till Mrs. Jones came. Then +he knew that his duty was done, and he would walk gravely down stairs. +Sometimes Mrs. Jones put Susie on the kitchen floor, and left Toby to +look after her. He would let her crawl all round unless she went near +the fire, or the open door or kitchen stairs, when he would take her by +the waist and lift her back to the place where her mother had left her. +Susie would scold him as well as she knew how, and pound him with her +little fist; but he did not care one bit for that. + +After a time Bessie grew quite fond of Toby. Maggie did not like him +so much. She liked a dog who would romp and play with her, which Toby +would never do. If his master or mistress did not want him, Toby was +generally to be found lying on the porch or sitting on the edge of the +bank above the beach, looking down on the people who were walking or +driving there. Bessie would sit down beside him and pat his rough head, +and talk to him in a sweet, coaxing voice, and he would blink his eyes +at her and flap his heavy tail upon the ground in a way that he would +do for no one else. + +"Bessie," said Maggie, one day, as her sister sat patting the great +dog, "what makes you like Toby so much; do you think he is pretty?" + +"No," answered Bessie, "I don't think he is pretty, but I think he is +very good and wise." + +"But he is not so wise as Jemmy Bent's Shock," said Maggie; "he does +not know any funny tricks." + +Jemmy Bent was a poor lame boy, and Shock was his dog,--a little +Scotch terrier with a black shaggy coat, and a pair of sharp, bright +eyes peeping out from the long, wiry hair which hung about his face. +He had been taught a great many tricks, and Maggie thought him a very +wonderful dog, but Bessie had never seemed to take much of a fancy to +him. + +"But he is very useful," said Bessie, "and I don't think Shock is +pretty either; I think he is very ugly, Maggie." + +"So do I," said Maggie; "but then he looks so funny and smart: I think +he looks a great deal nicer than Toby." + +"I don't," said Bessie, "I don't like the look of Shock; the first time +I saw him I didn't think he was a dog." + +"What did you think he was?" + +"I thought he was _a animal_," said Bessie, "and I was afraid of him." + +"And are you afraid of him now?" + +"No, not much; but I had rather he'd stay under the bed when I go to +see Jemmy." + +"I wouldn't," said Maggie, "and I can't like Toby so much as Shock. No, +I can't, Toby, and you need not look at me so about it." + +Maggie's opinion did not seem to make the least difference to Toby; he +only yawned and blinked his eyes at her. + +When Maggie and Bessie had been at Quam Beach about a week, they woke +one morning to find it was raining hard, and Mr. Jones said he hoped it +would keep on, for the rain was much needed. The little girls hoped it +would not, for they did not like to stay in the house all day. About +eleven o'clock they went to their mother and told her they had promised +to write a letter to Grandpapa Duncan, and asked if they might do it +now. Mamma was busy, and told them that she could not write it for them +at that time. + +"But, mamma," said Maggie, "we don't want you to write it for us; +grandpapa will like it better if we do it all ourselves. I can print +it, and Bessie will help me make it up." + +So mamma gave them a sheet of paper and a pencil, and they went off in +a corner to write their letter. They were very busy over it for a long +while. When it was done they brought it to their mother to see if it +was all right. There were a few mistakes in the spelling which Mrs. +Bradford corrected; but it was very nicely printed for such a little +girl as Maggie. This was the letter:-- + + "DEAR GRANDPAPA DUNCAN,-- + + "Maggie and Bessie are making up this letter, but I am + printing, because Bessie is too little. We hope you are + well, and Bessie is better and I am very well, thank you, + and every body. It rains, and we have nothing to do, and + so we are writing you a letter. We like this place; it is + nice. There is a great deal of sea here. There are two + kittens here. Mrs. Jones made us a turnover. The old cat is + very cross. Mrs. Jones put currants in it, and she put it + in the oven and the juice boiled out and made it sticky, + and it was good and we eat it all up. Dear grandpa, we hope + you are well. This is from us, Maggie and Bessie. Good-by, + dear grandpa. P. S.--We can't think of anything else to + say. My hand is tired, too. + + "Your beloved + + "MAGGIE AND BESSIE. + + "Another P. S.--God bless you." + +Mamma said it was a very nice letter, and she folded it and put it in +an envelope. Then she directed it to Mr. Duncan, and put a postage +stamp on it, so that it was all ready to go with the rest of the +letters when Mr. Jones went to the post-office in the evening. + +But you must learn a little about the dear old gentleman to whom the +children had been writing. His name was Duncan, and he lived at a +beautiful place called Riverside, a short distance from New York. +He was not really the children's grandfather, but his son, Mr. John +Duncan, had married their Aunt Helen; and as they were as fond of him +as he was of them, he had taught them to call him Grandpapa Duncan. + +A little way from Riverside lived a poor widow named Bent. She had a +son, who a year or two since had fallen from a wall and hurt his back, +so that the doctor said he would never walk or stand again. Day after +day he lay upon his bed, sometimes suffering very much, but always +gentle, patient, and uncomplaining. + +Jemmy was often alone, for hours at a time; for his mother had to work +hard to get food and medicine for her sick boy; and his sister, Mary, +carried radishes and cresses, and other green things to sell in the +streets of the city. But Jemmy's Bible and Prayer-book were always at +his side, and in these the poor helpless boy found comfort when he was +tired and lonely. + +To buy a wheel chair, in which Jemmy might be out of doors, and be +rolled from place to place without trouble or pain to himself, was the +one great wish of Mrs. Bent and Mary; and they were trying to put by +money enough for this. But such a chair cost a great deal; and though +they saved every penny they could, the money came very slowly, and it +seemed as if it would be a long while before Jemmy had his chair. + +Now Mrs. Bradford was one of Mary's customers; so it happened that the +children had often seen her when she came with her basket of radishes. +Bessie used to call her "yadishes," for she could not pronounce _r_: +but neither she nor Maggie had ever heard of the poor lame boy, till +one day when they were at Riverside. Playing in the garden, they saw +Mary sitting outside the gate, counting over the money she had made +by the sale of her radishes: and as they were talking to her, it came +about that she told them of the sick brother lying on his bed, never +able to go out and breathe the fresh air, or see the beautiful blue sky +and green trees, in this lovely Summer weather; and how she and her +mother were working and saving, that they might have enough to buy the +easy chair. + +Our little girls were very much interested, and went back to the house +very eager and anxious to help buy the chair for Jemmy; and finding +Grandpapa Duncan on the piazza, they told him the whole story. Now our +Maggie and Bessie had each a very troublesome fault. Bessie had a quick +temper, and was apt to fly into a passion; while Maggie was exceedingly +careless and forgetful, sometimes disobeying her parents from sheer +heedlessness, and a moment's want of thought. When Mr. Duncan heard +about Jemmy Bent, he proposed a little plan to the children, that +pleased them very much. + +This was about a month before they were to leave the city for the +sea-shore. Grandpapa Duncan promised that for each day, during the next +three weeks, in which Bessie did not lose her temper and give way to +one of her fits of passion, or in which Maggie did not fall into any +great carelessness or disobedience, he would give twenty cents to each +little girl. At the end of three weeks this would make eight dollars +and forty cents. When they had earned this much he would add the rest +of the money that was needed to buy the wheel chair, and they should +have the pleasure of giving it to Jemmy themselves. + +The children were delighted, and promised to try hard, and they +did do their best. But it was hard work, for they were but little +girls,--Bessie only five, Maggie not quite seven. Bessie had some hard +battles with her temper. Maggie had to watch carefully that she was not +tempted into forgetfulness and disobedience. And one day Maggie failed +miserably, for she had trusted to her own strength, and not looked for +help from above. But Grandpapa Duncan gave her another trial; and, as +even such young children may do much toward conquering their faults if +they try with all their hearts, the money was all earned, the chair +bought, and Maggie and Bessie carried it to lame Jemmy. Then it would +have been hard to tell who were the most pleased, the givers or the +receivers. + +Nor did Maggie and Bessie cease after this to struggle with their +faults, for from this time there was a great improvement to be seen in +both. + + + + +IV. + +_THE QUARREL._ + + +Mr. Jones had another errand to do when he went to the post-office, +which was to go to the railway station for Harry and Fred, whose +vacation had begun. Grandmamma and Aunt Annie came with them, but they +went to the hotel, and Maggie and Bessie did not see them till the next +morning. How glad the little girls were to have their brothers with +them; and what a pleasure it was to take them round the next day and +show them all that was to be seen! + +"Maggie and Bessie," said Harry, "I saw a great friend of yours on +Saturday; guess who it was." + +"Grandpa Hall," said Maggie. + +"No; guess again. We went out to Riverside to spend the day, and it +was there we saw him." + +"Oh, I know!" said Bessie, "it was lame Jemmy." + +"Yes, it was lame Jemmy, and he was as chirp as a grasshopper. He was +sitting up in his chair out under the trees; and you never saw a fellow +so happy, for all he is lame. Why, if I was like him, and couldn't go +about, I should be as cross as a bear." + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't, Harry," said Bessie; "not if you knew it was God +who made you lame." + +"Oh, but I should, though; I'm not half as good as he is." + +"But you could ask Jesus to make you good and patient like Jemmy, and +then He would." + +"Well," said Harry, "he's mighty good, anyhow; and Fred and I gave him +a first-rate ride in his chair ever so far up the road. He liked it, I +can tell you; and he asked such lots of questions about you two. And +what do you think he is learning to do?" + +"What?" asked both his little sisters. + +"To knit stockings for the soldiers." + +"What! a boy?" said Maggie. + +"Yes; Aunt Helen sent some yarn to his mother to knit socks; and Jemmy +wanted to learn so that he could do something for his country, if he +was a lame boy, he said. Aunt Helen pays Mrs. Bent for those she makes, +but Jemmy told her if he might use some of her yarn he would like to do +it without pay, and she gave him leave; so his mother is teaching him, +and you would think he is a girl to see how nicely he takes to it. He +is not a bit ashamed of it either, if it is girl's work." + +"And so he oughtn't," said Bessie. "Girl's work is very nice work." + +"So it is, Queen Bess; and girls are very nice things when they are +like our Midget and Bess." + +"I don't think boys are half as nice as girls," said Maggie, "except +you and Tom, Harry." + +"And I," said Fred. + +"Well, yes, Fred; when you don't tease I love you; but then you do +tease, you know. But Mamie Stone is not nice if she is a girl; she is +cross, and she did a shocking thing, Harry. She pinched Bessie's arm so +it's all black and blue. But she was served right for it, 'cause I just +gave her a good slap." + +"But that was naughty in you," said Tom, who was standing by; "you +should return good for evil." + +"I sha'n't, if she evils my Bessie," said Maggie, stoutly. "If she +hurts me I won't do anything to her, but if she hurts Bessie I will, +and I don't believe it's any harm. I'm sure there's a verse in the +Bible about it." + +"About what, Maggie?" + +"About, about,--why about my loving Bessie and not letting any one hurt +her. I'll ask papa to find one for me. He can find a verse in the Bible +about everything. Oh, now I remember one myself. It's--little children +love each other." + +"And so you should," said Tom; "and it is very sweet to see two little +sisters always so kind and loving to each other as you and Bessie +are. But, Maggie, that verse does not mean that you should get into a +quarrel with your other playmates for Bessie's sake; it means that you +should love all little children. Of course you need not love Mamie as +much as Bessie, but you ought to love her enough to make you kind to +her. And there's another verse,--'blessed are the peace-makers.' You +were not a peace-maker when you slapped Mamie." + +"I sha'n't be Mamie's peace-maker," said Maggie; "and, Tom, you ought +to take my side and Bessie's; you are very unkind." + +"Now don't be vexed, Midget," said Tom, sitting down on a large stone, +and pulling Maggie on his knee. "I only want to show you that it did +not make things any better for you to slap Mamie when she pinched +Bessie. What happened next after you slapped her?" + +"She slapped me," said Maggie; "and then I slapped her again, and Lily +slapped her, too; it was just good enough for her." + +"And what then?" asked Tom. + +"Why Mamie screamed and ran and told her mother, and Mrs. Stone came +and scolded us; and Jane showed her Bessie's arm, and she said she +didn't believe Mamie meant to hurt Bessie." + +"What a jolly row!" said Fred. "I wish I had been there to see." + +"Nurse said she wished she had been there," said Maggie, "and she would +have told Mrs. Stone--" + +"Never mind that," said Tom; "there were quite enough in the quarrel +without nurse. Now, Maggie, would it not have been far better if you +had taken Bessie quietly away when Mamie hurt her?" + +"No," said Maggie, "because then she wouldn't have been slapped, and +she ought to be." + +"Well, I think with you that Mamie was a very naughty girl, and +deserved to be punished; but then it was not your place to do it." + +"But her mother would not do it," said Maggie; "she is a weak, foolish +woman, and is ruining that child." + +The boys laughed, when Maggie said this with such a grand air. + +"Who did you hear say that?" asked Harry. + +"Papa," said Maggie,--"so it's true. I guess he didn't mean me to hear +it, but I did." + +"Oh, you little pitcher!" cried Harry; and Tom said, "Maggie dear, +things may be quite right for your father to say, that would not be +proper for us; because Mrs. Stone is a great deal older than we are; +but since we all know that she does not take much pains to make Mamie +a good and pleasant child, do you not think that this ought to make us +more patient with her when she is fretful and quarrelsome?" + +"No," said Maggie; "if her mother don't make her behave, some one else +ought to. I will hurt her if she hurts Bessie." + +"Maggie," said Tom, "when wicked men came to take Jesus Christ and +carry him away to suffer a dreadful death on the cross, do you remember +what one of the disciples did?" + +"No; tell me," said Maggie. + +"He drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of those wicked men; not +because he was doing anything to him, but because he was ill-treating +the dear Lord whom he loved." + +"I'm glad of it," said Maggie; "it was just good enough for that bad +man, and I love that disciple." + +"But the Saviour was not glad," said Tom, "for he reproved the +disciple, and told him to put up his sword; and he reached out his hand +and healed the man's ear." + +"That was because he was Jesus," said Maggie. "I couldn't be so good as +Jesus." + +"No, we cannot be as holy and good as Jesus, for he was without sin; +but we can try to be like him, and then he will love us and be pleased +with what he knows we wish to do. Maggie, the other day I heard you +saying to your mother that pretty hymn, 'I am Jesus' Little Lamb;' now, +if you are really one of Jesus' little lambs you will also be one of +his blessed peace-makers. I think if you and Lily had not struck Mamie, +she would have felt much more sorry and ashamed than she does now, when +she thinks that you have hurt her as much as she hurt Bessie." + +"Do you want me to be a peace-maker with Mamie, now?" asked Maggie. + +"Yes, if you are not friends with her yet." + +"Oh, no, we are not friends at all," said Maggie; "for she runs away +every time she sees Lily or me; and we make faces at her." + +"And do you like to have it so?" + +"Yes," said Maggie slowly, "I think I do; I like to see her run." + +"And do you think it is like Jesus' little lamb for you to feel so." + +"No, I suppose not; I guess it's pretty naughty, and I won't make faces +at her anymore. What shall I do to make friends, Tom?" + +"Well," said Tom, "I cannot tell exactly; but suppose the next time +that Mamie runs away from you, you call her to come and play with you; +will not that show her that you wish to be at peace again?" + +"Yes," said Maggie; "and if you think Jesus would want me to, I'll do +it; but, Tom, we'll be very sorry if she comes. You don't know what an +uncomfortable child she is to play with; she's as cross as--as cross +as--_nine_ sticks." + +"Perhaps you'll find some other way," said Tom, who could not help +smiling. "If we wish for a chance to do good to a person we can +generally find one. But I must go, for there is father beckoning to me +to come out in the boat with him. You will think of what I have said, +will you not, Maggie?" + +"Oh, yes I will, and I will do it too, Tom; and if Mamie pinches Bessie +again, I won't slap her, but only give her a good push, and then we'll +run away from her." + +Tom did not think that this was exactly the way to make friends, but he +had not time to say anything more, for his father was waiting. + + + + +V. + +_TOM'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL._ + + +"There's Tom," said Maggie, on the next Sunday afternoon, as she looked +out of the window; "he is talking to Mr. Jones, and now they are going +to the barn. I wonder if he is going to swing on Sunday." + +"Why, Maggie," said Bessie; "Tom wouldn't do such a thing." + +"I thought maybe he forgot," said Maggie. "I forgot it was Sunday this +morning, and I was just going to ask Mr. Jones to swing me. I wonder +what they are doing. I can see in the door of the barn and they are +busy with the hay. Come and look, Bessie." + +Tom and Mr. Jones seemed to be very busy in the barn for a few minutes, +but the little girls could not make out what they were doing. At last +Tom came out and walked over to the house. Maggie and Bessie ran to +meet him. + +"Here you are," he said, "the very little people I wanted to see. I am +going to have a Sunday-school class in the barn. Mr. Jones has given me +leave, for I could find no place over at the hotel. We have been making +seats in the hay. Will you come?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed we will," said Maggie, clapping her hands. + +Bessie shook her head sorrowfully. "Tom," she said, "mamma wont let me +go to Sunday-school; she says I am too little." + +"I think she will let you go to mine," said Tom; "we'll go and ask her." + +They all went in together to the room where papa and mamma sat reading. +"Mrs. Bradford," said Tom, when he had shaken hands with her, "I am +going to hold a little Sunday-school class over in the barn; will you +let Maggie and Bessie come?" + +"Certainly," said Mrs. Bradford. "Who are you to have, Tom?" + +"Only Lily, ma'am, and Mamie Stone, and a few more of the little ones +from the hotel; they were running about and making a great noise in the +hall and parlors, and I thought I could keep them quiet for a while +if Mr. Jones would let me bring them over to his barn, and have a +Sunday-school there. Walter is coming to help me." + +"A good plan, too," said Mr. Bradford; "you are a kind boy to think of +it, Tom." + +"May I come?" asked Harry. + +"And I, too?" said Fred. + +"I don't know about you, Fred," said Tom; "I should like to have Harry, +for neither Walter nor I can sing, and we want some one to set the +tunes for the little ones. But I am afraid you will make mischief." + +"Indeed I won't, Tom. Let me come and I will be as quiet as a mouse, +and give you leave to turn me out if I do the first thing." + +"Well, then, you may come, but I shall hold you to your word and send +you away if you make the least disturbance. I don't mean this for +play." + +"Honor bright," said Fred. + +They all went out and met Walter who was coming up the path with a +troop of little ones after him. There were Lily and Eddie Norris, +Gracie Howard, Mamie Stone, Julia and Charlie Bolton, and half a dozen +more beside. + +Tom marched them into the barn, where he and Mr. Jones had arranged the +school-room. + +And a fine school-room the children thought it; better than those +in the city to which some of them went every Sunday. There were two +long piles of hay with boards laid on top of them,--one covered with +a buffalo robe, the other with a couple of sheep skins, making nice +seats. In front of these was Tom's place,--an empty barrel turned +upside-down for his desk, and Fred's velocipede for his seat. The +children did not in the least care that hay was strewn all over the +floor, or that the old horse who was in the other part of the barn, +would now and then put his nose through the little opening above his +manger, and look in at them as if he wondered what they were about. + +"Oh, isn't this splendid?" said Maggie. "It is better than our Infant +school-room, in Dr. Hill's church." + +"So it is," said Lily. "I wish we always went to Sunday-school here, +and had Tom for our teacher." + +Some of the little ones wanted to play, and began to throw hay at each +other; but Tom put a stop to this; he had not brought them there to +romp, he said, and those who wanted to be noisy must go away. Then he +told them all to take their seats. + +Maggie had already taken hers on the end of one of the hay benches, +with Bessie next to her, and Lily on the other side of Bessie. Gracie +Howard sat down by Lily, and Mamie Stone was going to take her place +next, when Gracie said, "You sha'n't sit by me, Mamie." + +"Nor by me," said Lily. + +"Nor me, nor me," said two or three of the others. + +Now Mamie saw how she had made the other children dislike her by her +ill-humor and unkindness, and she did not find it at all pleasant to +stand there and have them all saying they would not sit by her. + +"I want to go home," she said, while her face grew very red, and she +looked as if she were going to cry. + +"Who is going to be kind, and sit by Mamie," asked Tom. + +"I should think none of them who know how she can pinch," said Fred. + +"Oh, we are going to forget all that," said Tom. "Come, children, make +room for Mamie." + +"This bench is full," said Lily, "she can't come here." + +Mamie began to cry. "There is plenty of room on the other bench," said +Tom; "sit there, Mamie." + +"I don't want to," answered Mamie; "there's nothing but boys there, and +I want to go home." + +"Why," said Tom, "what a bad thing that would be, to begin our +Sunday-school by having one of our little scholars go home because +none of the rest will sit by her. That will never do." + +All this time Maggie had sat quite still, looking at Mamie. She was +thinking of what Tom had said to her, and of being Jesus' little lamb. +Here was a chance to show Mamie that she was ready to be friends with +her, but it was hard work. She did not at all like to go away from her +little sister whom she loved so much, to sit by Mamie whom she did not +love at all, and who had been so unkind to Bessie. She rose up slowly +from her seat, with cheeks as red as Mamie's and said,-- + +"Tom, I'll go on the other seat and sit by Mamie." + +"And just get pinched for it," said Lily: "stay with us, Maggie." + +Mamie took her hand down from her face and looked at Maggie with great +surprise. + +"She wants some one to sit with her," said Maggie, "and I had better +go." + +"Maggie is doing as she would be done by," said Tom. + +Then Maggie felt glad, for she knew she was doing right. "Come, Mamie," +she said, and she took hold of Mamie's hand, and they sat down together +on the other bench. + +"You are a good girl, Midget," said Harry, "and it's more than you +deserve, Miss Mamie." + +"I don't care," said Mamie. "I love Maggie, and I don't love any of the +rest of you, except only Tom." + +Here Tom called his school to order and said there must be no more +talking, for he was going to read, and all must be quiet. He went +behind his barrel-desk, and opening his Bible, read to them about the +Saviour blessing little children. Then they sang, "I want to be an +Angel." Harry and Fred, with their beautiful clear voices, started the +tune, and all the children joined in, for every one of them knew the +pretty hymn. + +[Illustration: Bessie at Sea Side. p. 68] + +Next, Tom read how Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in a rough +stable and laid not in a pretty cradle such as their baby brothers +and sisters slept in, but in a manger where the wise men of the east +came and worshipped Him: and how after Joseph and Mary had been told by +God to fly into the land of Egypt with the infant Saviour, the wicked +king, Herod, killed all the dear little babies in the land, with the +hope that Jesus might be among them. When he came to any thing which he +thought the children would not understand, he stopped and explained it +to them. "Now we will sing again," he said, when he had done reading, +"and the girls shall choose the hymns. Maggie, dear, what shall we sing +first?" + +Maggie knew what she would like, but she was too shy to tell, and she +looked at Tom without speaking. Tom thought he knew, and said, "I'll +choose for you, then. We will sing, 'Jesus, little lamb;' whoever knows +it, hold up their hand." + +Half a dozen little hands went up, but Tom saw that all the children +did not know it. "What shall we do?" he said. "Maggie would like that +best, I think; but I suppose all want to sing, and some do not know the +words." + +"Never mind," said Gracie Howard, who was one of those who had not held +up her hand, "if Maggie wants it we'll sing it, because she was so good +and went and sat by Mamie. If we don't know the words we can holler out +the tune all the louder." + +Some of the children began to laugh when Gracie said this, but Tom +said, "I have a better plan than that. I will say the first verse over +three or four times, line by line, and you may repeat it after me; then +we will sing it, and so go on with the next verse." + +This was done. Tom said the lines slowly and distinctly, and those who +did not know the hymn repeated them. While they were learning the first +verse in this way, Mamie whispered to Maggie, "Maggie, I love you." + +"Do you?" said Maggie, as if she could not quite believe it. + +"Yes, because you are good; don't you love me. Maggie?" + +"Well, no, not much," said Maggie, "but I'll try to." + +"I wish you would," said Mamie; "and I wont snatch your things, nor +slap you, nor do anything." + +"I'll love you if you do a favor to me," said Maggie. + +"Yes, I will, if it is not to give you my new crying baby." + +"Oh, I don't want your crying baby, nor any of your toys," said Maggie. +"I only want you to promise that you won't pinch my Bessie again. Why, +Mamie, you ought to be more ashamed of yourself than any girl that ever +lived; her arm is all black and blue yet." + +"I didn't mean to hurt her so much," said Mamie, "and I was sorry when +Bessie cried so; but then you slapped me, and Lily slapped me, and +Jane scolded me, and so I didn't care, but was glad I did it; but I am +sorry, now, and I'll never do it again." + +"And I sha'n't slap you, if you do," said Maggie. + +"What will you do, then?" + +"I'll just take Bessie away, and leave you to your own 'flections." + +"I don't know what that means," said Mamie. + +"I don't, either," said Maggie; "but I heard papa say it, so I said it. +I like to say words that big people say. Bessie won't say a word if +she don't know what it means; but I'd just as lief. I guess it means +conscience." + +"Oh, I guess it does, too," said Mamie, "for Walter said he should +think I'd have a troubled conscience for hurting Bessie so; but I +didn't. And Tom talked to me too; but I didn't care a bit, till you +came to sit by me, Maggie, and now I am sorry. Did you tell Tom about +it?" + +"I talked to him about it, but he knew before. Why, everybody knew, +Mamie, because your mamma made such an awful fuss about those little +slaps." + +Now Maggie made a mistake in saying this; she did not mean it to vex +Mamie, but it did. + +"They were not little slaps," she said, "they were hard slaps, and they +hurt; and you sha'n't say my mamma makes an awful fuss." + +Before Maggie had time to answer, Tom called upon the children to sing, +and Maggie joined in with her whole heart. The first verse was sung +over twice; and by the time this was done, Mamie felt good-natured +again, for she remembered how Maggie had come to sit with her when none +of the other little girls would do so. She had been quite surprised +when Maggie had offered to do it, and had thought that she could not +have been so good. + +"I'll never be cross with Maggie again," she said to herself. + +When Tom began to teach the second verse she whispered, "Maggie, will +you kiss me and make up?" + +"Yes, by and by, when some of the other children are gone," said Maggie. + +"Why won't you do it, now?" + +"I don't like to do it before them; I'm afraid they'll think I want +them to see." + +When Tom thought the children all knew the hymn pretty well, they sang +it over two or three times, and then he told them a story. After they +had sung once more, he dismissed the school; for he did not want to +keep them too long, lest the little ones should be tired. He invited +all those who liked it, to come again the next Sunday afternoon, for +Mr. Jones had said that they might have Sunday-school in the barn as +often as they liked. Every one of the children said that they would +come. When most of them had left the barn, Maggie said, "Now I will +kiss you, Mamie." + +"I want to kiss Bessie, too," said Mamie, as the little girl came +running up to her sister; "will you kiss me, Bessie?" + +"Oh, yes," said Bessie; and Mamie kissed both of her little playmates, +and so there was peace between them once more. + + + + +VI. + +_THE POST-OFFICE_ + + +On Monday Mr. Bradford went up to New York to attend to some business. +He was to come back on Wednesday afternoon; and on the morning of that +day, grandmamma sent over to know if Mrs. Bradford would like to have +her carriage, and drive to the railway station to meet him. Mamma said +yes; and told Maggie and Bessie they might go with her. She offered +to take Harry and Fred, too; but they wanted to go clam-fishing with +Mr. Jones; so she took Franky and baby instead, and carried baby +herself, telling nurse and Jane that they might have a holiday for the +afternoon. The little girls were delighted at the thought of going to +meet their dear father; for he had been gone three days, and they had +missed him very much. + +The first part of the ride was through the sand, where the wheels went +in so deep that the horses had hard work to draw the carriage and went +very slowly, but the children did not mind that at all. They liked to +hear the sound of the wheels grating through the sand, and to watch how +they took it up and threw it off again as they moved round and round. +At last the carriage turned off to the right, and now the road was +firmer and harder, and, after a time, ran through the woods. This was +delightful, it was so cool and shady. Baby seemed to think this was a +good place for a nap, for she began to shut her eyes and nod her little +head about, till mamma laid her down in her lap, where she went fast +asleep. James took Franky in front with him and let him hold the end +of the reins, and Franky thought he was driving quite as much as the +good-natured coachman, and kept calling out "Get up," and "Whoa," which +the horses did not care for in the least. + +There was a little stream which ran along by the side of the road, +and at last bent itself right across it, so that the carriage had to +go over a small bridge. Just beyond the bridge the stream widened into +quite a large pool. James drove his horses into it, and stopped to let +them take a drink. + +It was a lovely, shady spot. The trees grew close around the pool and +met overhead, and there were a number of small purple flowers growing +all around. James tried to reach some of them with his whip, but +they were too far away, so the children were disappointed. When the +horses had stopped drinking, there was not a sound to be heard but the +twittering of the birds in the branches, and the little ripple of the +water as it flowed over the stones. + +"Let's stay here a great while, mamma," said Bessie, "it is so +pleasant." + +"And what would papa do when he came and found no one waiting for him?" +said Mrs. Bradford. + +"Oh, yes! let us make haste then," said Bessie; "we mustn't make him +disappointed for a million waters." + +But mamma said there was time enough; so they staid a few moments +longer, and then drove on. At last they passed from the beautiful green +wood into a space where there was no shade. There were bushes and very +small trees to be sure, but they were low and scrubby and grew close +together in a kind of tangled thicket. These reached as far as they +could see on either side, and came so near to the edge of the road, +that once, when James had to make way for a heavy hay wagon, and drew +in his horses to let it pass, Maggie stretched her hand out of the +carriage and pulled some sprigs from one of the bushes. + +"Mamma, do you know that funny old man?" asked Bessie, as the driver of +the hay wagon nodded to her mother, and Mrs. Bradford smiled and nodded +pleasantly in return. + +"No, dear; but in these lonely country places it is the custom for +people to nod when they pass each other." + +"Why, we don't do that in New York," said Maggie. + +"No, it would be too troublesome to speak to every one whom we met +in the streets of a great city; and people there would think it very +strange and impertinent if you bowed to them when you did not know +them." + +"Mamma," said Maggie, "I don't like the kind of country there is here, +at all. What makes all these bushes grow here?" + +Then mamma told how all this ground was once covered with just such +beautiful woods as they had passed through, and how they were set on +fire by the sparks from a train of cars, how the fire spread for miles +and miles, and burned for many days; and the people could do nothing to +stop it, until God sent a change of wind and a heavy rain which put it +out. She told them how many poor people were burnt out of their houses, +and how the little birds and squirrels and other animals were driven +from their cosy homes in the woods, and many of them scorched to death +by this terrible fire. Then for a long time the ground where these +woods had grown was only covered with ashes and charred logs, till at +last these tangled bushes had sprung up. Mamma said she supposed that +by and by the people would cut down the underbrush, and then the young +trees would have space to grow. + +By the time she had finished her long story they reached the Station +and found that they had a few moments to wait, for it was not yet quite +time for the train. + +There was a locomotive standing on the track, and when the horses saw +it they began to prick up their ears and to dance a little; so James +turned their heads and drove them up by the side of the depot, where +they could not see it. On the other side of the road was a small, white +building, and over the door was a sign with large black letters upon it. + +"P-O-S-T, porst," spelled Maggie. + +"Post," said mamma. + +"Post, O double F." + +"O-F, of," said mamma again. + +"O-F, of, F-I-C-E; oh, it's the post-office. I wonder if there is a +letter there for us from Grandpapa Duncan." + +"Perhaps there may be," said Mrs. Bradford. "I told Mr. Jones we would +inquire for the letters. James, will it do for you to leave the horses?" + +"I think not, ma'am," said James. "They are a little onasy yet, and if +she squales they'll run." + +"And I cannot go because of baby," said mamma; "we must wait till papa +comes." + +"I wish we could get our letter if it is there," said Maggie; "we could +read it while we are waiting for papa." + +"There's a nice civil man there, Mrs. Bradford," said James, "and if +you didn't mind Miss Maggie going over, I could lift her out, and he'll +wait on her as if it was yourself." + +"Oh, James," said Maggie; "I couldn't do it, not for anything. I +couldn't indeed, mamma." + +"Well, dear, you need not, if you are afraid." + +"But I would like to have our letter so much, mamma." + +"So would I," said Bessie. "And when dear papa comes we will want to +talk to him and not to yead our letter." + +"Maybe it is not there," said Maggie. + +"But we would like to know," said Bessie. "Could I go, mamma?" + +"You are almost too little I think, dear." + +"Well," said Maggie, slowly, "I guess I'll go. Mamma, will you look at +me all the time?" + +"Yes, dear, and there is nothing to hurt you. Just walk in at that +door, and you will see a man there. Ask him if there are any letters to +go to Mr. Jones's house." + +"Yes, mamma, and be very sure you watch all the time." + +James came down from his seat and lifted Maggie from the carriage. She +walked very slowly across the road, every step or two looking back to +see if her mother was watching her. Mrs. Bradford smiled and nodded to +her, and at last Maggie went in at the door. But the moment she was +inside, her mother saw her turn round and fly out of the post-office as +if she thought something terrible was after her. She tore back across +the road and came up to the carriage looking very much frightened. + +"Why, Maggie, what is it, dear?" asked her mother. + +"Oh, mamma, there is a hole there, and a man put his face in it; please +put me in the carriage, James." + +"Oh, foolish little Maggie," said mamma; "that man was the post-master, +and he came to the hole as you call it, to see what you wanted. If you +had waited and told him, he would have looked to see if there were any +letters for us." + +"He had such queer spectacles on," said Maggie. + +"I wish I could go," said Bessie; "I wouldn't be afraid of him. I do +want to know if Grandpapa Duncan's letter is there." + +"Then you may try," said her mother; "take her out, James." + +So Bessie was lifted out of the carriage, and went across the road +as Maggie had done. She walked into the post-office and saw the hole +Maggie had spoken of, but no one was looking out of it. It was a square +opening cut in a wooden partition which divided the post-office. On one +side was the place where Bessie stood, and where people came to ask for +their letters; on the other was the postmaster's room, where he kept +the letters and papers till they were called for. + +Bessie looked around and saw no one. She always moved very gently, and +she had come in so quietly that the post-master had not heard her. +There was a chair standing in front of "the hole." Bessie pushed it +closer, and climbing upon it, put her little face through, and looked +into the post-master's side of the room. He was sitting there reading. +He was an ugly old man, and wore green goggles, which Maggie had called +"such queer spectacles." But Bessie was not afraid of him. + +"How do you do, Mr. Post Officer?" she said. "I came for our letter." + +The post-master looked up. "Well, you're a big one to send after a +letter," he said. "Who is it for?" + +"For Maggie and me, and it is from Grandpapa Duncan; has it come?" + +"Where are you from?" asked the post-master, laughing. + +"From Mr. Jones's house. Oh, I forgot, mamma said I was to ask if any +letters had come for Mr. Jones's house." + +"Then I suppose you are Mr. Bradford's daughter?" + +"Yes, I am," said Bessie. + +"And are you the little girl who came in here just now, and ran right +out again?" + +"Oh, no, sir; that was Maggie. Poor Maggie is shy, and she said you +looked out of a hole at her." + +"And you looked in a hole at me, but I did not run away. If I was to +run away you could not get your letter." + +"Is it here, sir?" asked Bessie. + +"Well, I reckon it may be," said the post-master; "what's your name?" + +"My name is Bessie, and my sister's is Maggie." + +"Here is one apiece then," said the post-master, taking up some +letters. "Here is one for Miss Bessie Bradford; that's you, is it? and +one for Miss Maggie Bradford, that's your sister, I reckon." + +"What! one for myself, and one for Maggie's self," said Bessie. "Are +they from Grandpapa Duncan?" + +"I don't know," said the post-master. "You will have to open them to +find that out." + +"Oh, how nice; please let me have them, sir; I am very much obliged to +you." + +"Stop, stop," cried the post-master, as Bessie jumped down from the +chair, and was running off with her prizes. "Here are some more papers +and letters for your folks." + +But Bessie did not hear him; she was already out of the door, running +over to the carriage with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, holding +up a letter in each hand. "Oh, Maggie, Maggie," she called, "that nice +post-officer gave me two letters, one for you, and one for me; wasn't +he kind?" + +"I think it was a kind Grandpapa Duncan, who took the trouble to write +two letters," said Mrs. Bradford. + +"So it was," said Maggie. "Mamma, will you read them for us?" + +"In a moment," said Mrs. Bradford; and then she turned to speak to the +post-master, who had followed Bessie to the carriage with the papers +and letters which she had been in too great a hurry to wait for. She +thanked him, and he went back and stood at the door watching the eager +little girls while their mother read to them. She opened Maggie's +letter first. It said, + + "MY DEAR LITTLE MAGGIE:-- + + "I cannot tell you how pleased I was to receive the very + nice letter which you and Bessie sent me. I have put it in + a safe place in my writing desk, and shall keep it as long + as I live. As you wrote it together, perhaps you expected + that I would make one answer do for both; but I thought you + would be better pleased if I sent a letter for each one. + + "I am glad to hear that you like Quam Beach so much; but + you must not let it make you forget dear old Riverside. I + am fond of the sea myself, and do not know but I may take a + run down to see you some day this summer. Do you think you + could give a welcome to the old man? and would Mrs. Jones + make him such a famous turnover as she made for you? + + "I went this morning to see your friend Jemmy, for I + thought you would like to hear something about him. He + was out in the little garden, on the shady side of the + house, sitting in his chair with his books beside him, + and a happier or more contented boy I never saw. He was + alone, except for his dog and rabbits, for his mother was + washing, and Mary was out. Mrs. Bent brought me a chair, + and I sat and talked to Jemmy for some time. I asked him + which of all his books he liked best. 'Oh, my Bible, sir,' + he said. 'I think it is with the Bible and other books, + just like it is with people, Mr. Duncan.' 'How so?' I + asked. 'Why, sir,' he answered, 'when Mary and mother are + away, the neighbors often come in to sit with me and talk + a bit. They are very kind, and I like to have them tell me + about things; but no matter how much they make me laugh or + amuse me, 'tain't like mother's voice; and if I am sick, or + tired, or uncomfortable, or even glad, there ain't nobody + that seems to have just the right thing to say, so well as + her. And it's just so with the Bible, I think; it always + has just the very thing I want: whether it's comfort and + help, or words to say how happy and thankful I feel. The + other books I like just as I do the neighbors; but the + Bible I love just as I do mother. I suppose the reason is + that the Bible is God's own words, and he loved and pitied + us so that he knew what we would want him to say, just as + mother loves and pities me, and so knows what I like her + to say.' Happy Jemmy! he knows how to love and value God's + holy book, that most precious gift, in which all may find + what their souls need. May my little Maggie learn its worth + as the poor lame boy has done. + + "I really think your chair has done Jemmy good. He looks + brighter, and has a better color and appetite since he has + been able to be out of doors so much. I do not suppose he + will ever be able to walk again, but he does not fret about + that, and is thankful for the blessings that are left to + him. If you and Bessie could see how much he enjoys the + chair, you would feel quite repaid for any pains you took + to earn it for him. And now, my darling, I think I must put + the rest of what I have to say, in your little sister's + letter. Write to me soon again, and believe me + + "Your loving grandpapa, + + "CHARLES DUNCAN." + +Just as mama was finishing this letter, the train came in sight, and +she said she must leave Bessie's letter till they were at home. In +a few minutes they saw their dear father coming towards them, and a +man following with his bag and a great basket. Then papa was in the +carriage, and such a hugging and kissing as he took and gave. Franky +came inside that he might have his share, too; and baby woke up, +good-natured as she always was, and smiled and crowed at her father +till he said he really thought she knew him, and was glad to see him. +Mamma was quite sure she did. + +When they had all settled down once more, and papa had asked and +answered a good many questions, he said, "Maggie and Bessie, I met a +very curious old gentleman to-day; what strange question do you think +he asked me?" + +The children were sure they did not know. + +"He asked me if there were any little girls down this way who wrote +letters to old gentleman?" + +Maggie and Bessie looked at each other, and Maggie shook her head very +knowingly; but they waited to hear what papa would say next. + +"I told him I thought I knew of two such young damsels, and what do you +think he did then?" + +"What?" asked both the little girls at once. + +"He handed me these two parcels and told me if I could find any such +little letter-writers, to ask them if they would prove useful." + +As Mr. Bradford spoke, he produced two parcels. Like the letters, they +were directed one to Miss Maggie Bradford, and the other to Miss Bessie +Bradford. They were quickly opened, and inside were two purple leather +writing cases, very small, but as Bessie said, "perfaly pretty." They +had steel corners and locks, and a plate with each little girl's name +engraved upon her own. In each were found a small inkstand, a pen, and +two pencils, two sticks of sealing wax, and best of all, tiny note +paper and envelopes stamped M. S. B., and B. R. B. + +It would have done Grandpapa Duncan good to have seen his pets' +pleasure. Maggie fairly screamed with delight. "Oh, such paper, such +lovely stamped paper." + +"And such _embelopes_," said Bessie, "with our own name letters on +them." + +"I am going to write to every one I know in the world," cried Maggie. + +"Mamma," said Bessie, when they had looked again and again at their +beautiful presents, "I do think God has made all my people the very +best people that ever lived. I don't think any little girls have such +people as mine." + +"I suppose every other little girl thinks the same thing, Bessie." + +"Mamma, how can they? they don't have you, nor papa, nor Maggie, nor +Grandpapa Duncan, nor grandmamma;" and Bessie went on naming all the +people whom she loved, and who loved her. + +Papa asked if they had not each had a letter from Grandpapa Duncan. The +writing cases had almost made them forget the letters; but now they +showed them to papa, and he told Bessie he would read hers. He let her +open it herself, and taking her on his knee, read: + + "MY DEAR LITTLE BESSIE,-- + + "Maggie will tell you how much I was pleased with the + letter you both sent me, but I must thank you for your + share in it. Your old grandpapa is very happy to know that + his little pets think about him, and care for him when they + are away. I am glad to hear that you are better, and hope + you will come home with cheeks as red as Maggie's. + + "We are all well here except poor little Nellie, who is + cutting some teeth which hurt her very much, and make her + rather fretful. She has learned to say two or three words, + and among them she makes a curious sound which her mamma + declares to be a very plain grandpapa; as she looks at me + every time she says it, I suppose I must believe it is so; + but I must say it does not sound much like it to my ears. + However, she loves her old grandpapa dearly, which is a + great pleasure to me. + + "Your little dog Flossy is growing finely. He is very + pretty and lively, and will make a fine playmate for you + and Maggie when you come home. I went down to Donald's + cottage the other day and found all four of the puppies + playing before the door while Alice sat on the steps + watching them. She says they are growing very mischievous + and have already broken two or three of Donald's fine + plants, so that when she lets them out for a play, she has + to keep her eye on them all the time. Alice asked about you + and Maggie, and I could not help wishing with her that you + were there to see your little doggie. It will be pleasant + to have you at Riverside again in the autumn. Send me + another letter, if you wish to please + + "Your loving grandpapa, + + "CHARLES DUNCAN." + + + + +VII. + +_A NEW FRIEND._ + + +One morning Bessie was sitting on a large rock on the beach, looking at +the waves as they rolled up, one after another, and listening to the +pleasant sound they made. The other children and Jane were playing a +little way off. + +Presently a lady and gentleman came walking slowly along the beach. The +gentleman used crutches, for he had only one foot. They stopped at the +rock where Bessie sat, and the lady said, "You had better sit down, +Horace, you have walked far enough." + +The gentleman sat down beside Bessie, who looked at him for a minute +and then got up. + +"I'll sit on that other stone," she said, "and then there'll be room +for the lady: that is big enough for me." + +"Thank you, dear," said the lady; and the gentleman said, "Well, you +are a polite little girl." + +Bessie liked his looks, but it made her sorry to see that he had only +one foot. She sat opposite to him looking at him very gravely; and he +looked back at her, but with a smile. Now that Bessie had given up her +seat to the strangers, she felt they were her company and she must +entertain them, so she began to talk. + +"Is your foot pretty well, sir?" she said. + +"Which foot?" asked the gentleman. + +"The one that is cut off." + +"How can it be pretty well if it is cut off?" he said; "you see it is +not here to feel pretty well." + +"I mean the place where it was cut off," said Bessie. + +"It pains me a good deal," he said. "I am a soldier, and my foot was +hurt in battle and had to be cut off, but I hope it will feel better +one of these days. I have come down here to see what the sea air will +do for me." + +"Oh, then you'll feel better, soon," said Bessie. "I used to feel very +_misable_, but now I am most well." + +"Why, is your foot cut off, too?" asked the gentleman. + +"Oh, no; don't you see I have both my two?" + +"So you have," said the gentleman, laughing as she held up two little +feet; "but there is not half as much in those two tiny feet, as there +is in my one big one." + +"I had yather have two little ones than one big one," said Bessie. + +"So would I, but you see I cannot choose, and all the sea air in the +world will not bring me back my other foot." + +"Don't you like the sea, sir?" asked Bessie, "I do." + +"Why do you like it so much?" + +"Because I like to see the waves, and I think it sounds as if it was +saying something all the time." + +"What does it seem to say?" + +"I don't know, sir. I listen to it a great deal, and I can't find +out, but I like to hear it for all. I think it must be telling us to +yemember our Father in heaven who made it." + +"What a strange child," the gentleman whispered to the lady; "who is +she like?" + +"I do not know, but she is lovely;" said the lady; "I should like to +take her picture as she sits there." + +"What is your name, fairy?" asked the gentleman. + +"Bessie," said the little girl. + +"Bessie what?" + +"Bessie Bradford." + +"Bessie Bradford! and what is your father's name?" + +"His name is Bradford, too." + +"But what is his first name?" + +"Mr." said Bessie, gravely. + +The gentleman laughed. "Has he no other names?" + +"Oh, yes;" said Bessie, "all his names are Mr. Henry, Lane, Bradford." + +"I thought so," said the gentleman, "she is the very image of Helen +Duncan. And where is your father, Bessie?" + +"Up in the house, yeading to mamma," said Bessie, looking away from him +to the lady. She was very pretty and had a sweet smile. Bessie liked +her face very much and sat gazing at her as earnestly as she had before +done at the gentleman who presently said, "Well, what do you think of +this lady?" + +"I think she is very pretty," said Bessie, turning her eyes back to him. + +"So do I," said the gentleman, "do you think that I am very pretty, +too?" + +"No," said Bessie. + +"Then what do you think about me?" + +"I think you are pretty 'quisitive," said the little girl, at which +both the lady and gentleman laughed heartily; but Bessie looked very +sober. + +"Will you give me a kiss, little one?" asked the stranger. + +"No," said Bessie, "I had yather not." + +"Why, you are not afraid of me?" + +"Oh, no!" said Bessie, "I am not afraid of soldiers; I like them." + +"Then why won't you kiss me?" + +"I don't kiss strangers, if they're gentlemen," said Bessie. + +"And that is very prudent, too," said the soldier, who seemed very much +amused; "but then you see I am not quite a stranger." + +"Oh, what a--I mean I think you are mistaken, sir," said Bessie. + +"Don't tease her, dear," said the lady. + +"But, little Bessie," said the gentleman, "do you call people strangers +who know a great deal about you?" + +"No," said Bessie; "but you don't know anything about me." + +"Yes, I do; in the first place I know that you are a very kind and +polite little girl who is ready to give up her place to a lame soldier. +Next, I know that your father's name is Mr. Henry, Lane, Bradford, and +that yours is Bessie Rush Bradford, and that you look very much like +your aunt, Helen Duncan. Then I know that you have a little sister, +whose name is--let me see, well, I think her name is Margaret, after +your mother; and you have two brothers, Harry and Fred. There is +another little one, but I have forgotten his name." + +"Franky," said Bessie; "and we have baby, too." + +"Ah, well, I have never made baby's acquaintance. And this is not your +home, but you live in New York, at No. 15 ---- street, where I have +spent many a pleasant hour. And more than all this, I know there is a +lady in Baltimore named Elizabeth Rush, who loves you very much, and +whom you love; and that a few days since you wrote a letter to her and +told her how sorry you were that her brother who was 'shooted' had had +his foot cut off." + +While the gentleman was saying all this, Bessie had slipped off her +stone and come up to him, and now she was standing, with one little +hand on his knee, looking up eagerly into his face. + +"Why, do you know the lady whom I call my Aunt Bessie?" she said. + +"Indeed I do; and now if you are so sorry for Aunt Bessie's brother, +would you not like to do something to help him?" + +"I can't," said Bessie; "I am too little." + +"Yes, you can," said the colonel, "you can give me a kiss, and that +would help me a great deal." + +"Why," said Bessie, again, "do you mean that you are Colonel Yush, dear +Aunt Bessie's brother?" + +"To be sure I am," said the colonel; "and now are you going to give me +the kiss for her sake?" + +"Yes, sir, and for your own sake, too." + +"Capital, we are coming on famously, and shall soon be good friends at +this rate," said the colonel as he stooped and kissed the rosy little +mouth which Bessie held up to him. + +"Will you tell me about it?" she said. + +"About what?" + +"About how you was in that country, called India, which papa says is +far away over the sea, and how the wicked heathen named, named--I can't +yemember." + +"Sepoys?" said the colonel. + +"Yes, Sepoys: how the Sepoys, who you thought were your friends, made a +great fight, and killed the soldiers and put the ladies and dear little +babies down a well. And how brave you was and how you was fighting and +fighting not to let the Sepoys hurt some poor sick soldiers in the +hospital; and the well soldiers wanted to yun away, but you wouldn't +let them, but made the Sepoys yun away instead, and went after them. +And then they came back with ever so many more to help them, and you +and your soldiers had to go away, but you took all the sick men with +you and did not let them be hurt. And you saw a soldier friend of yours +who was dying, and he asked you not to let the Sepoys find him, and +you put him on your horse and carried him away, and the Sepoys almost +caught you. And how the very next day there was a dreadful, dreadful +battle when more soldiers came, and your foot was shooted and your +side; and your foot had to be cut off in the hospital, and would not +get well for a long, long while. And how there was a lady that you +wanted for your wife, and you came to our country to get her--oh, I +guess that's the lady!" Bessie stopped as she looked at the pretty +lady, and the colonel smiled as he said,-- + +"You are right, Bessie; and what more?" + +"And when you were coming in the ship, there was a little boy who fell +in the water and you forgot your lame foot and jumped in after him, and +your foot was hurt so much it had to be cut off some more. So please +tell me all about it, sir." + +Bessie said all this just as fast as her little tongue would go, and +the colonel sat watching her with a very amused look on his face. "Upon +my word, you are well posted, little one. I do not know that I could +tell the story better myself; how did you learn so much?" + +"Oh, Aunt Bessie put it in the letters she yote to mamma, and mamma +told us about it, and Harry yeads and yeads it; and Maggie made a nice +play about it. Harry gets on the yocking horse and plays he is Colonel +Yush, and Fred is the soldier that you helped." + +"Very good," said the colonel, "and what are you and Maggie?" + +"Oh! we are Harry's soldiers, I mean _your_ soldiers, and Franky is, +too; and we have the nursery chairs for horses, and our dolls for sick +soldiers, and we have the pillows for Sepoys, and we poke them; and +nurse don't like it, 'cause she says we make a yumpus and a muss in the +nursery." + +"I should think so," said the colonel, laughing heartily. + +"Will you tell me the story?" asked Bessie. + +"I think I had better tell you another, since you know that so well," +said Colonel Rush; "I will tell you one about a drummer boy." + +But just as he began the story Bessie saw her father coming towards +them, and in another minute he and the colonel were shaking hands and +seeming so glad to see one another. Then Mr. Bradford turned and looked +at the pretty lady, and the colonel said, "Yes, this is the lady of +whom you have heard as Miss Monroe, now Mrs. Rush. She has taken charge +of what is left of me." + +"Isn't she _perfaly_ lovely, papa?" asked Bessie, as Mr. Bradford took +off his hat and shook hands with the lady, and she saw a pretty pink +color come into her cheeks which made her look sweeter than ever. Papa +looked as if he quite agreed with his little daughter, but he only +smiled and said, "My Bessie speaks her mind on all occasions." + +"So I see," said the colonel, looking very much pleased. + +"Did I talk too much, sir?" asked Bessie, not knowing exactly whether +he meant to find fault with her, for she was sometimes told at home +that she talked too much. + +"Not one word," he answered; "and I hope you will often come and see +me at my rooms in the hotel, and talk to me there. I am very fond of +little children." + +"If mamma will let me," said Bessie; "but I can't come _very_ often, +'cause I don't want to be away from Maggie." + +"Oh, Maggie must come, too," said the colonel. + +"Maggie is shy," said Bessie. + +"Well, you bring her to my room, and we will see if I have not +something there that will cure her shyness." + +But papa called Maggie to come and see Colonel and Mrs. Rush, and when +she heard that this was the brave English soldier about whom she had +made the famous play, her shyness was forgotten at once, and she was +quite as ready to be friends as Bessie, though she had not much to say. + +"You know, Bessie," she said afterwards, "we're so very acquainted with +him in our hearts, he is not quite a stranger." + +The next morning, Mrs. Bradford went to the hotel to call on Mrs. +Rush, taking Maggie and Bessie with her; and from this time the little +girls and the colonel were the best friends possible, though Bessie +was his particular pet and plaything, and she always called him her +soldier. When he felt well enough, and the day was not too warm, he +would come out and sit on the beach for an hour or two. The moment he +came moving slowly along on his crutches, Bessie was sure to see him, +and no matter what she was doing, off she would run to meet him. As +long as he stayed she never left him, and her mother sometimes feared +that the colonel might grow tired of having such a little child so much +with him, but he told her it was a great pleasure to him; and indeed +it seemed to be so, for though there were a great many people at Quam +Beach who knew him and liked to talk to him, he never forgot the little +friend who sat so quietly at his side, and had every now and then a +word, or smile, or a touch of his hand for her. + +Bessie had been taught that she must not interrupt when grown people +were speaking; so, though she was a little chatterbox when she had +leave to talk, she knew when it was polite and proper for her to be +quiet. + +If the colonel could not come down to the shore, he was almost sure to +send for Maggie and Bessie to come to his room, until it came to be +quite a settled thing that they were to pass some time there every day +when he did not go out, and many a pleasant hour did they spend there. +He told them the most delightful and interesting stories of people and +things that he had seen while he was in India, being always careful not +to tell anything that might shock or grieve them, from the day that he +was speaking of the sad death of a little drummer boy, when, to his +great surprise and distress, both children broke into a violent fit +of crying, and it was some time before they could be pacified. Then +such toys as he carved out of wood! He made a little boat with masts +and sails for each of them, which they used to sail in the pools that +were left by the tide; and a beautiful set of jack-straws, containing +arrows, spears, swords, trumpets, and guns. + +One day he asked Harry to bring him some sprigs from the spruce tree, +and the next time Maggie and Bessie came to see him, there was a tiny +set of furniture,--a sofa and half a dozen chairs to match, all made +of those very sprigs. He used to lie and carve, while Mrs. Rush was +reading to him; and sometimes he worked while the children were there, +and it was such a pleasure to watch him. Then he had some books with +fine pictures, and oh! wonder of wonders, and what the children liked +best of all, such a grand musical-box, they had never seen one like +it. Mamma had a small one which played three tunes, but it was a baby +musical-box to this, which was so very much larger, and played twenty. +They never tired of it, at least Bessie did not; and she would sit +looking into it and listening so earnestly that often she seemed to see +and hear nothing else around her. Maggie was fond of it, too, but she +could not keep quiet so long as Bessie, and often wanted to be off and +playing out of doors long before her sister was ready to go. + +There were many days when the colonel was suffering too much pain to +talk or play with them, and they had to be very still if they went into +his room. Then Maggie never cared to stay very long, nor indeed did +the colonel care much to have her; for though she tried her best to be +gentle and quiet, those restless little hands and feet seemed as if +they must be moving; and she was almost sure to shake his sofa, or to +go running and jumping across the room, in a way that distressed him +very much, though her merry ways amused him when he was able to bear +them. Quiet little mouse of a Bessie went stealing about so softly that +she never disturbed the sick man; and so it came about that she spent +many an hour in his room without Maggie. Maggie never half enjoyed her +play, if her sister was not with her; but she was not selfish, and did +not complain if Bessie sometimes left her for a while. + + + + +VIII. + +_BESSIE'S LITTLE SERMON._ + + +One afternoon when the children had gone over to the hotel to see +grandmamma, a basket of fine fruit came, from Riverside. They had not +been to the colonel's room for two or three days, for he had been +suffering very much, and was not able to see any one. When the fruit +came grandmamma put some on a plate, and sent Bessie with it to the +colonel's door, but told her that she must not go in. + +Bessie went to the door, and, putting her plate down on the hall floor, +knocked very gently. Mrs. Rush came and opened the door, and, taking +up her plate again, Bessie handed it to her, gave her grandmamma's +message, and was going away, when she heard the colonel's voice. "Is +that my pet?" he said. + +"Yes, sir; and I love you very much, and I am so sorry for you; but +grandmamma said I must not come in." + +"But I want to see you," said the colonel. + +"You can come in, darling," said Mrs. Rush; "he is better this +afternoon, and would like to see you." + +"But I better mind grandma first; bettern't I?" said Bessie. "I'll yun +and ask her, and if she'll let me, I can come back." + +Mrs. Rush smiled, and said, "Very well;" and the obedient little girl +ran to ask her grandmamma's permission. + +Grandmamma said, "Certainly, if the colonel wanted her." + +"Didn't he invite me?" said Maggie, with rather a long face. + +"No," said Bessie. "Would you yather I would not go? I'll stay with +you, if you want me." + +"I guess you had better go, if he wants you," said Maggie; "but don't +stay very long, Bessie; it's very sorrowful without you." + +"Poor Maggie," said Walter, who was standing by at the time; "it is +very cruel in the colonel not to ask you. Never mind, you shall come +and take care of me when I lose my foot." + +"Oh, no, it's me you ought to call cruel," said Maggie, in a very +doleful voice; "you know I am such a fidget, Walter, and I can't help +it. The other day the colonel was so sick, and I meant to be so quiet, +and yet I did two shocking things." + +"What did you do?" asked Walter. + +"I knocked over a chair, and I slammed the door; and so mamma said I +must not go again till he was better." + +"But what do you do without Bessie, when she goes?" said Walter; "I +thought you two could not live apart." + +"We can't," said Maggie; "but then, you see, the colonel is a sick, +lame soldier, with a foot cut off and a hole in his side; so, if he +wants Bessie, I ought to make a sacrifice of myself and let her go." + +The boys laughed; but Tom said, "That is right, little woman, do all +you can for the soldiers; they have sacrificed enough for us." And +Bessie kissed her sister and ran back to the colonel's room. + +"Why, is he better?" she asked, as Mrs. Rush lifted her up to kiss him. +"I think he looks very worse. Oh, how big his eyes are!" + +The colonel laughed. "I am like the wolf in Red Riding-Hood; am I not, +Bessie?" he said. + +"No," she answered, "not a bit; you are just like my own dear soldier, +only I wish you did not look so white." + +"I think he will look better to-morrow, Bessie," said Mrs. Rush. "He +has suffered terribly the last two days; but he is easier now, though +he is very tired and weak, so we must not talk much to him." + +"I wont talk a word, only if he speaks to me," said Bessie; and she +brought a footstool and sat down by the side of the sofa. The colonel +held out his hand to her, and she put her own little one in it and +sat perfectly quiet. He lay looking at her, with a smile, for a few +minutes, but presently his eyes closed, and Bessie thought he was +asleep. He looked more ill when his eyes were shut than when they +were open; his face was so very, very pale, and his black hair and +beard made it look whiter still. Mrs. Rush sat by the sofa fanning her +husband, while the little girl watched him with earnest, loving eyes. + +At last she whispered, "If he dies, he'll go to heaven, 'cause he's so +very brave and good; wont he?" + +Mrs. Rush did not speak, but Bessie did not need any answer. She was +quite sure in her own mind; for she never imagined that this brave +soldier did not love his Saviour. "He could not be so brave and good if +he did not love Jesus very much," she said, looking up at Mrs. Rush. +She could not see the lady's face very plainly, for she was bending +it down almost close to the pillows. Bessie went on very softly and +gravely: "I suppose that's the yeason he's so patient too. Papa says +he never saw any one so patient; and I guess he's like lame Jemmy. +Jemmy said he couldn't help being patient when he thought how much his +Saviour suffered for him, and I guess the colonel is just like him; +and he was so brave in the battles, 'cause he knew Jesus loved him and +would take him to heaven if he was killed. He would have been afraid, +if he didn't know that. And I suppose when he was hurt in that battle +and lay on the ground all night, and his own soldiers didn't know where +he was, but thought the Sepoys had him, he thought about Jesus and his +Father in heaven all the time, and yemembered how Jesus died for him, +and kept saying his prayers to them; and so they took care of him, and +let his own soldiers come and find him. Oh, I know he must love Jesus +very much. And don't you think Jesus took such care of him so he could +love him more yet?" Mrs. Rush's face was quite down on her husband's +pillows now, and Bessie looked back at him. He had turned his head, +and she could not see his face either, but she felt the hand, in which +her own was lying, moving a little uneasily. + +"I'm 'fraid I esturb him," she said; "I mustn't whisper any more." + +She kissed his hand very gently, and laid her head on the sofa beside +it. The room was rather dark, and very still, and in a few moments +she was fast asleep. After a while the colonel turned his head again, +opened his eyes and looked at her. Then Mrs. Rush lifted up her face. + +"Were you asleep, Horace?" she asked. + +"No," he said, rather crossly, and moving his head impatiently; "I wish +you would take her away." + +Mrs. Rush was glad that Bessie did not hear him; she knew that this +would have grieved her. She lifted the little darling in her arms, and +carried her across the floor to her grandmamma's room. Mrs. Stanton +herself opened the door; there was no one else in the room. + +"This precious child is asleep," said Mrs. Rush, in a low voice. "Shall +I leave her with you?" + +Mrs. Stanton asked her to lay Bessie on the bed. She did so, and then +bent over her for a moment, and when she raised her head, Mrs. Stanton +saw how very pale and sad her sweet face was. + +"What is it, my child?" asked the kind old lady, taking her hand. Mrs. +Rush burst into tears. + +"Is your husband worse? Do you think him in danger?" + +"Not for this life, but for that which is to come," sobbed Mrs. Rush, +laying her head on Mrs. Stanton's shoulder. + +"My poor child! and is it so?" said grandmamma. + +"Yes, yes, and he will not hear a word on the subject; he has forbidden +me to mention it to him. And if he would let me, I do not know how to +teach him. I am only a beginner myself. These things are all so new +to me; for it was not until I feared that I was to lose him that I +felt my own need of more than human strength to uphold me. Bessie, dear +little unconscious preacher, has just said more in his hearing than he +has allowed me to say for months. God, in his mercy, grant that her +innocent words may touch his heart. Dear Mrs. Stanton, pray for him and +for me." + +Mrs. Stanton tried to comfort her, and then the old lady and the young +one knelt down together, while little Bessie slept on, knowing nothing +of the hopes and fears and sorrows of those who prayed beside her. + + + + +IX. + +_FAITH._ + + +"Nursey," said Bessie, the next morning, as nurse was putting on her +shoes and stockings, after giving her her bath, "I can't think how it +is." + +"How what is, dear?" + +"About the Trinity." + +"Well!" said nurse. "The Trinity! and what put that into your head?" + +"It's not in my head," said Bessie; "I can't get it there. I try and +try to think how it can be, and I can't. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, +three Persons and one God," she repeated, slowly; "how can it be, +nursey? I know the Father means our Father in heaven, and the Son means +Jesus, and the Holy Ghost means Heavenly Spirit; but there's only one +God, and I don't understand." + +"And wiser heads than yours can't understand it, my lamb," said +nurse; "don't bother your little brains about that. It's just one +of those things we must take upon faith; we must believe it without +understanding it. Don't you think about it any more till you are older." + +But Bessie did think about it; and her thoughtful little face looked +more grave and earnest than usual all that day. Mamma wondered what she +was considering, but said nothing, for she was sure that Bessie would +soon come to her if she was in any difficulty. + +"What are you thinking about, Bessie?" asked the colonel that +afternoon, when she was in his room. He was much better, and was +sitting up in his easy-chair. + +"What is faith?" asked Bessie, answering his question by another, and +turning her great serious, brown eyes on his face. The colonel looked +surprised. + +"Faith?" he said. "Why, to have faith in a person is to believe in him +and trust in him." + +Bessie did not look satisfied. + +"When you first went in bathing," said the colonel, "did you not feel +afraid?" + +"No, sir," answered Bessie. + +"Why not? Did you not fear that those great waves would wash you away +and drown you?" + +"No, sir; before I went in, I thought I would be very 'fraid; but papa +said he would carry me in his arms, and wouldn't let me be drownded." + +"And did you believe him?" + +"Why, yes," answered Bessie, opening her eyes very wide at this +question; "my father don't tell stories." + +"And you were not afraid when he carried you in his arms?" + +"No, sir." + +"That was faith,--faith in your father. You believed what he told you, +and trusted in his care." + +Bessie still looked puzzled. + +"Well," said the colonel, "don't you understand yet?" + +"I don't know how it is about things," said the little girl. + +"What things?" + +"Things that I don't know how they can be." + +"Do you mean, Bessie," said Mrs. Rush, "that you do not know how to +have faith in what you do not understand?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"See here, little old head on young shoulders," said the colonel, +drawing Bessie closer to him, and seeming much amused, "when I told you +that this box would make sweet music, did you believe me?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you understand how it could?" + +"No, sir." + +"Do you know what this paper-knife is made of?" + +"No, sir." + +"It is made of the shell of a fish; do you believe it?" + +"Why, yes," answered Bessie. + +"But you did not see it made; how can you believe it?" + +"'Cause you tell me so." + +"Well, then, that is faith; you believe what I say, even when you +cannot understand how it is, because you trust me, or have faith in me, +for you know I never tell you anything that is not true. If I sometimes +told you what is false, you could not have faith in me; could you?" + +"No," said the little girl, "but you never would tell me _falses_." + +"Indeed, I would not, my pet," he said, smiling, and twisting one of +her curls over his finger. + +She stood for a few minutes, as if thinking over what he had told her, +and then, her whole face lighting up, she said, "Oh, yes, I know now! I +believe what papa tells me when he says he'll take care of me, 'cause +he always tells me true, and I know he can do it; and that's faith; and +I believe what you tell me, 'cause you tell me true; and that's faith; +and we believe what God tells us, even if we can't understand how it +can be, 'cause he tells us what is true; and that's faith. Now I know +what nursey meant." + +"What did nurse say, dear?" asked Mrs. Rush. + +"She said we must have faith about three Persons in one God, and +believe what we could not understand; but I think I do understand about +that too. I thinked about it when I was sitting on the yocks this +morning, and I am going to ask mamma if it is yight." + +"And what do you think about it, Bessie?" + +"Why," said Bessie, holding up her little finger, "don't you know +I have a silver three cent piece? Well, there's three pennies in +it--mamma said so,--but it's only one piece of money, and I suppose +it's somehow that way about three Persons in one God,--Father, Son, and +Holy Ghost,--three Persons in one God."[A] + +If the colonel had looked surprised before, he looked still more so +now, while Mrs. Rush laid down her work and gazed at the child. + +"Who told you that, Bessie?" she asked. + +"Oh, nobody," said Bessie, innocently; "I just thinked it; maybe it is +not yight. I couldn't ask mamma about it all day, 'cause she was busy, +or some one came to see her; and I don't like to ask her things when +somebody is there." + +Mrs. Rush looked out of the window by which she sat, and seemed to be +watching the sea; and Bessie stood, softly patting the colonel's knee +with her hand, while for a moment or two no one spoke. Suddenly Bessie +looked up in the colonel's face. + +"Colonel Yush," she said, "don't you have a great deal of faith?" + +"In some people, Bessie," he answered. "I have a great deal of faith in +my little wife, and a great deal in my pet Bessie, and some few others." + +"Oh, I mean in our Father," she said. "I should think you'd have more +faith than 'most anybody, 'cause he took such good care of you in the +battles." + +"What?" said the colonel, "when my leg was shot off?" + +Bessie did not know whether he was in earnest or not, but she did not +think it was a thing to joke about, and he did not look very well +pleased, though he laughed a little when he spoke. + +"Oh, don't make fun about it," she said, "I don't think He would like +it. He could have let you be killed if He chose, but He didn't; and +then He took such care of you all that night, and let your men come +and find you. Don't you think He did it 'cause He wanted you to love +Him more than you did before? Oh, I know you must have a great deal of +faith! Didn't you keep thinking of Jesus all that night, and how he +died for you so his Father could forgive your sins, and take you to +heaven if you died?" + +"I was very thankful when I heard my men coming, Bessie; but I was too +weak to think much," said the colonel. "Come, let us wind the box and +have some music; hand me that key." + +"But you think a great deal about it when you don't feel so bad; don't +you?" persisted the child, as she gave him the key of the musical box. + +"Pshaw!" said the colonel, throwing it down again on the table; "what +absurdity it is to fill a child's head--" + +"Horace!" said Mrs. Rush, in a quick, startled voice. + +The colonel stopped short, then taking up the paper-cutter, began +tapping the table in a very impatient manner. "I am sick of the whole +thing," he said; "there seems to be no end to it. Wife, sister, and +friend, from the parson to the baby, every one has something to say on +the same subject. I tell you I will have no more of it from any one. +I should have supposed I would have been safe there. And my own words +turned into a handle against me too." And he looked at Bessie, who +had drawn a little away from him and stood gazing at him with fear and +wonder in her large eyes. She had never seen him angry before, and she +could not think what had made him so now. + +"Am I naughty?" she asked. + +"No, darling," said Mrs. Rush, holding out her hand. + +Bessie ran over to her. Mrs. Rush lifted her up in her lap. + +"Did I talk too much?" asked Bessie. "I did not mean to tease him." + +"See that steamship coming in, Bessie," said Mrs. Rush, in a voice that +shook a little. "I think it must be the 'Africa,' which is to bring +Gracie Howard's father. Will she not be glad to see him?" + +"Yes," said Bessie; but she did not look at the steamer, but watched +the colonel, who still seemed vexed, and kept up his tattoo with the +paper-cutter. + +Nobody spoke again for a few moments, and Bessie grew more and more +uncomfortable. Presently she gave a long sigh, and leaned her cheek on +her hand. + +"Are you tired, dear?" asked Mrs. Rush. + +"No," said Bessie, "but I'm so uncomf'able. I think I had yather go to +mamma in grandmamma's yoom." + +Mrs. Rush put her down, and was leading her away, but when they reached +the door, Bessie drew her hand from hers and ran back to the colonel. +"I am sorry I teased you," she said. "I didn't know you didn't like +people to talk about that night; I'll never do it any more again." + +The colonel threw down the paper-cutter, and catching her in his arms, +kissed her heartily two or three times. "You do not tease me, my pet," +he said; "you did not know how cross your old soldier could be; did +you?" + +"You was not so very cross," she said, patting his cheek lovingly with +her little hand. "Sick, lame people can't be patient all the time, and +I do talk too much sometimes; mamma says I do. Next time I come, I'll +be so quiet." Then she ran back to Mrs. Rush, who took her to her +grandmamma's room and left her at the door. + +Bessie went to mamma, and tried to climb upon her lap. Mrs. Bradford +lifted her up, but she was talking to her mother, and did not notice +her little girl's troubled face till Mrs. Stanton signed to her to look +at Bessie. Then she asked, "What is it, dearest?" + +"I don't know, mamma," said Bessie. + +"Has something troubled you?" asked mamma. + +"Yes," said Bessie; "I teased the colonel." + +"Oh!" said Maggie, "did you slam the door?" + +"No, I talked about what he didn't like," said Bessie, with a quivering +lip; "I talked about that night, and it teased him. I didn't know he +didn't like to hear about it, mamma. I s'pose it's because he suffered +so much he don't like to think of it." + +Mamma had no need to ask what night she meant; ever since Bessie +had heard of the terrible night when the colonel had lain upon the +battle-field, faint and almost dying from his dreadful wounds, thinking +that he should never see his home and friends again, the story had +seemed to be constantly in her mind; and she spoke of it so often that +her mother knew quite well what she meant. "What did you say about it, +dear?" she asked. + +Bessie could not remember all, but she told enough to let her mother +see what had displeased the colonel. But Mrs. Bradford did not tell her +little girl, for she knew it would distress her very much to know that +the brave soldier of whom she was so fond did not like to be reminded, +even by a little child, of his debts and duty to the merciful Father +who had kept him through so many dangers and who had sent his dear Son +to die for him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: The above train of reasoning was actually carried out by a +child of five years.] + + + + +X. + +_THE SICK BABY._ + + +One night the dear little baby was very sick. Bessie woke many times, +and as often as she did so, she found that nurse had not come to bed, +and when she looked through the open door which led into her mother's +room, she saw either her father or mother walking up and down with the +baby, trying to hush her pitiful cries and moans. In the morning the +doctor was sent for, and grandmamma came over to the cottage and stayed +all day; but the baby grew worse and worse. In the afternoon Maggie +and Bessie went into their mamma's room and stood by her side looking +at their little sister, who was lying on her lap. The baby seemed very +restless, and was moaning and throwing its arms about; suddenly it +threw back its head with a very strange look on its face, and clinched +its tiny hands. Mamma caught it in her arms, and she and grandmamma +called for nurse to bring warm water. Mrs. Jones came with it in a +minute, saying, "I had it all ready, for I thought it would be wanted." +Maggie ran away; she could not bear to see baby look and act so +strangely; but Bessie stayed till grandmamma sent her out of the room. +In a short time, Jane came to take the little girls to the beach. They +did not want to go, and begged her to let them stay at home; but she +said she could not keep Franky in the house all the afternoon, and she +thought their mamma would wish them to go out as usual; so they said no +more, and went with her, like the obedient children they were. + +They found Colonel and Mrs. Rush down on the beach. Mrs. Rush talked to +Jane a little, and then said she would go up and see baby. She left the +little girls with the colonel, and he tried to amuse them; but although +he told them a very interesting story, they did not care about it half +as much as usual. + +Mrs. Rush stayed a good while, and came back with a very grave face, +and when her husband asked, "How is the child?" she looked at him +without speaking; but Maggie and Bessie knew by this that the baby was +worse. Then Mrs. Rush asked them if they did not want to go to the +hotel and have tea with her and the colonel, but they said "No," they +wanted to go home. + +When they went back to the house, Jane left the little girls sitting +on the door-step, while she took Franky in to give him his supper. It +was a very quiet, lovely evening. The sun had gone down, but it was +not dark yet. The sky was very blue, and a few soft gray clouds, with +pink edges, were floating over it. Down on the beach they could see +the people walking and driving about; but not a sound was to be heard +except the cool, pleasant dash of the waves, and Farmer Jones' low +whistle as he sat on the horse-block with Susie on his knee. Susie +sucked her fat thumb, and stared at the children. They sat there +without speaking, with their arms round each other's waists, wishing +they knew about the baby. Presently Mrs. Jones came down stairs and +called out over the children's heads, "Sam'l." Mr. Jones got up off the +horse-block and came towards them. "Here," said Mrs. Jones, handing +him a paper, "they want you to go right off to the station and send +up a telegraph for the city doctor. Here it is; Mr. Bradford writ it +himself, and he says you're to lose no time. 'Taint a mite of use +though, and it's just a senseless wastin' of your time." + +"Not if they want it done," said Jones. "Why, Susan, s'pose everybody +hadn't done everything they could when we thought this one was going +to be took, wouldn't we have thought they was hard-hearted creeturs? I +aint done thanking the Almighty yet for leaving her to us, and I aint +the man to refuse nothing to them as is in like trouble,--not if it was +to ride all the way to York with the telegram." + +"I'm sure I don't want you to refuse 'em," said Mrs. Jones,--"one can't +say no to them as has a dyin' child; but I do say it's no use. It will +all be over long before the doctor comes; all the doctors in York can't +save that poor little lamb. Anyhow, if I was Miss Bradford, I wouldn't +take on so; she's got plenty left." + +"I'll do my part, anyhow," said the farmer, as he handed Susie to her +mother, and then hurried off to saddle his horse and ride away to the +station as fast as possible, while Mrs. Jones carried Susie off to the +kitchen. + +"Maggie," whispered Bessie, "what does she mean?" + +"The bad, hateful thing!" answered Maggie, with a sudden burst of +crying; "she means our baby is going to die. She wouldn't like any one +to say that of her Susie, and I don't believe it a bit. Bessie, I can't +bear her if she does make us cookies and turnovers. I like Mr. Jones a +great deal better, and I wish he didn't have Mrs. Jones at all. Mamma +wont have plenty left if our baby dies; six isn't a bit too many, and +she can't spare one of us, I know." + +"But perhaps Jesus wants another little angel up in heaven," said +Bessie, "and so he's going to take our baby." + +"Well, I wish he would take somebody else's baby," said Maggie. +"There's Mrs. Martin, she has thirteen children, and I should think she +could spare one very well; and there's a whole lot of little babies at +the Orphan Asylum, that haven't any fathers and mothers to be sorry +about them." + +"Perhaps he thinks our baby is the sweetest," said Bessie. + +"I know she is the sweetest," said Maggie, "but that's all the more +reason we want her ourselves. She is so little and so cunning; I think +she grows cunninger and cunninger every day. Day before yesterday she +laughed out loud when I was playing with her, and put her dear little +hands in my curls and pulled them, and I didn't mind it so very much if +she did pull so hard I had to squeal a little; and oh! I'd let her do +it again, if she would only get well. Don't you think, Bessie, if we +say a prayer, and ask Jesus to let us keep her, he will?" + +"I think he will," said Bessie; "we'll try." + +"Let us go into the sitting-room," said Maggie, "there is no one there." + +"Oh! let us stay out here," answered Bessie, "there's such a beautiful +sky up there. Perhaps Jesus is just there looking at us, and maybe he +could hear us a little sooner out here. Nobody will see us." + +They knelt down together by the seat on the porch. "You say it, +Bessie," said Maggie, who was still sobbing very hard. She laid her +head down on the bench, and Bessie put her hands together, and with +the tears running over her cheeks said, "Dear Jesus, please don't take +our darling little baby to be an angel just yet, if you can spare her. +She is so little and so sweet, and poor mamma will feel so sorry if +she goes away, and we will, too, and we want her so much. Please, dear +Jesus, let us keep her, and take some poor little baby that don't have +any one to love it, Amen." + +They sat down again on the door-step till Harry and Fred came in. + +"How is baby?" asked Harry. + +"We don't know," said Maggie; "nobody came down this ever so long." + +"Go up and see, Midget." + +"Oh! I can't, Harry," said Maggie. "I don't want to see that strange +look on baby's face." + +"Then you go, Bessie," said Harry; "my shoes make such a noise, and you +move just like a little mouse. You wont disturb them." + +Bessie went up stairs and peeped in at the door of her mother's room. +There was no one there but papa and mamma and the baby. Papa was +walking up and down the room with his arms folded, looking very sad and +anxious, and mamma sat on a low chair with baby on her lap. The little +thing lay quiet now, with its eyes shut and its face so very, very +white. Mamma was almost as pale, and she did not move her eyes from +baby's face even when Bessie came softly up and stood beside her. + +Bessie looked at her baby sister and then at her mother. Mamma's face +troubled her even more than the baby's did, and she felt as it she must +do something to comfort her. She laid her hand gently on her mother's +shoulder, and said, "Dear mamma, don't you want to have a little angel +of your own in heaven?" Mamma gave a start and put her arm farther +over the baby, as if she thought something was going to hurt it. Papa +stopped his walk and Bessie went on,-- + +"Maggie and I asked Jesus to spare her to us, if he could; but if he +wants her for himself, we ought not to mind very much; ought we? And +if you feel so bad about it 'cause she's so little and can't walk or +speak, I'll ask him to take me too, and then I can tell the big angels +just how you took care of her, and I'll help them. And then when you +come to heaven, you will have two little angels of your own waiting for +you. And we'll always be listening near the gate for you, dear mamma, +so that when you knock and call us, we'll be yeady to open it for you; +and if we don't come yight away, don't be frightened, but knock again, +for we'll only be a little way off, and we'll come just as fast as I +can bring baby; and she'll know you, for I'll never let her forget you. +And while you stay here, dear mamma, wont it make you very happy to +think you have two little children angels of your own, waiting for you +and loving you all the time?"[B] + +Mamma had turned her eyes from the baby's face, and was watching her +darling Bessie as she stood there talking so earnestly yet so softly; +and now she put her arm around her and kissed her, while the tears ran +fast from her eyes and wet Bessie's cheeks. + +"Please don't cry, mamma," said the little girl; "I did not mean to +make you cry. Shall I ask Jesus to take me, too, if he takes the baby?" + + +"No, no, my darling, ask him to leave you, that you may be your +mother's little comforter, and pray that he may spare your sister too." + +"And if he cannot, mamma?" + +"Then that he may teach us to say, 'Thy will be done,'" said her +father, coming close to them and laying his hand on Bessie's head. "He +knows what is best for us and for baby." + +"Yes," said Bessie, "and I suppose if he takes her, he will carry her +in his arms just as he is carrying the lambs in the picture of the Good +Shepherd in our nursery. We need not be afraid he wont take good care +of her; need we, mamma?" + +"No, darling," said Mrs. Bradford, "we need not fear to give her to his +care, and my Bessie has taught her mother a lesson." + +"Did I, mamma?" said the little girl, wondering what her mother meant; +but before she could answer, grandmamma came in with the country +doctor. + +Mr. Bradford took Bessie in his arms, and after holding her down to her +mother for another kiss, carried her from the room. When he had her out +in the entry, he kissed her himself many times, and whispered, as if he +was speaking to himself, "God bless and keep my angel child." + +"Yes, papa," said Bessie, thinking he meant the baby, "and Maggie and I +will say another prayer about her to-night; and I keep thinking little +prayers about her all the time, and that's just the same, papa; isn't +it?" + +"Yes, my darling," said her father; and then he put her down and stood +and watched her as she went down stairs. + +It was not the will of our Father in heaven that the dear little baby +should die. Late in the night the doctor came from New York, and God +heard the prayers of the baby's father and mother and little sisters, +and blessed the means that were used to make it well; and before the +morning it was better, and fell into a sweet, quiet sleep. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote B: Almost the exact words of a very lovely child of a friend +of the writer.] + + + + +XI. + +_THE HAPPY CIRCUMSTANCE._ + + +The next morning, when Bessie woke up, it was very quiet in the +nursery. She lay still a moment, wondering what it was that had +troubled her last night; and just as she remembered about the baby, +she heard a little discontented sound at her side. She turned her +head and looked around, and there sat Maggie on the floor beside the +trundle-bed, with one sock and one shoe on, and the other shoe in her +hand. She looked rather cross. + +"Maggie," said Bessie, "has the baby gone to heaven?" + +"No," said Maggie, "and I don't believe she's going just yet. Our own +doctor came in the night, and she's a great deal better; and now she's +fast asleep." + +"And don't you feel glad then?" + +"Oh, yes! I am real glad of _that_," said Maggie. + +"Then why don't you look glad? What is the matter?" + +"I can't find my clo'," said Maggie, in a fretful tone. + +"What clo'?" + +"Why, my sock." + +"Why don't nurse or Jane find it for you?" asked Bessie. + +"I can't wait," said Maggie; "I want it now; nurse is holding baby +because mamma has gone to sleep too, and Jane has taken Franky to +Harry's room to dress him, because she was afraid he would make a +noise; and she said if I put on my shoes and socks, and all the rest of +my under-clo's before she came back, I might put on yours, if you waked +up. And that's a great 'sponsibility, Bessie; and I want to do it, and +now I can't." + +"Look some more," said Bessie, who was very well pleased at the thought +of having her sister dress her. + +"I have looked all over," said Maggie. "I just expect a robber came in +the night and stole it." + +"Why, it would not fit him!" said Bessie. + +"Well, I guess he has a bad little robber girl of his own that he has +taken it to," said Maggie. "Anyhow, she'll be bare one foot, and I'm +glad of it." + +Bessie sat up in the bed and looked around the room. "I see a pair of +clean socks over there on your petticoats," she said. + +"So there is," said Maggie; and quite good-natured again, she began to +dress as fast as she could. + +"Maggie," said Bessie, as she lay down again to wait till her sister +was ready, "what was the name of that word you said?" + +"What,--'sponsibility?" + +"Yes, that's it; say it again." + +"Spons-er-bil-er-ty," said Maggie, slowly. + +"Oh!" said Bessie, with a long breath, as if that word was almost too +much for her, "what does it mean?" + +"It means something to do or to take care of." + +"Then when mamma put baby on the bed the other day, and told me to take +care of her, was that a great spons-er-bil-er-ty?" + +"Yes," said Maggie. + +"It's a nice word; isn't it, Maggie?" + +"Yes, but it is not so nice as happy circumstance." + +"Oh, that is very nice? What does that mean, Maggie?" + +"It means something very nice and pleasant. I'm going to say happy +circumstance to some one to-day, if I get a chance." + +"Whom are you going to say it to?" + +"I don't know yet; but I shall not say it to the boys, for they laugh +at us when we say grown-up words. You may say it, Bessie, if you want +to." + +"Oh, no," said Bessie, "I would not say your new words before you say +them yourself; that would not be fair, and I would not do it for a +hundred dollars." + +"Well," said Maggie, "I would not let any one else do it, but you may +say any of my words you want to, Bessie." + +While they were talking away, Maggie was putting on her clothes, and +then Bessie got up; and by the time Jane came back, Maggie had nearly +dressed her sister too. Jane called Maggie a good, helpful little girl, +which pleased her very much, for she liked praise. + +After breakfast, as the children were standing on the porch waiting for +Jane to take them for their walk, Harry came along and told them, if +they would come out to the barn, he would give them a swing. They never +said no to the offer of a swing, and, much pleased, followed him to the +barn, where they found Mr. Jones sitting outside of the door mending +his nets. He took down the swing for them, lifted Bessie in, and then +went back to his work. Maggie had said that Bessie should take her turn +first, and that, while Harry was swinging her, she would go out and +talk to Mr. Jones. They were very good friends now, and Maggie was not +at all afraid of him, but sat watching him with great interest as he +filled up the broken places in his nets. + +"Well, and so the little sister is better this morning?" said Mr. Jones. + +"Yes," said Maggie; "and we are very much obliged to you, Mr. Jones." + +"What for?" asked Jones. + +"Because you went so quick to send for our own doctor." + +"Deary me, that wasn't nothing," said Mr. Jones. "I'd ha' been a +heathen if I hadn't." + +Maggie stood silent for a few moments, watching him, and then said, +slowly, but very earnestly, "Mr. Jones, do you think Mrs. Jones is a +very happy circumstance?" + +Mr. Jones looked at her for a moment as if he did not quite understand +her, and then he smiled as he said, "Well, yes, I reckon I do; don't +you?" + +"No, I _don't_," said Maggie. "What did make you marry her, Mr. Jones?" + +"Because I thought she would make me a good wife." + +[Illustration: Bessie at Sea Side. p. 152.] + +"And does she?" + +"First-rate; don't you think she does?" + +"I don't know," said Maggie, "I don't like her very much; I like you a +great deal better than I do her; I think you are a very nice man, Mr. +Jones." + +"I guess I'm about of the same opinion about you," said Mr. Jones; "but +what is the reason you don't like Mrs. Jones?" + +"Oh," said Maggie, "because she--she--does things. She makes me just as +mad as a hop." + +"What things?" + +"She goes and has trundle-beds," said Maggie. + +Mr. Jones laughed out now as he said, "Oh, you haven't got over that +trouble yet, eh? Well, what else does she do?" + +"She said we could spare our baby, and we couldn't," said Maggie, +angrily; "and she didn't want you to go send the message for our own +doctor. I think she ought to be ashamed." + +"She didn't mean it," said Mr. Jones, coaxingly. + +"People ought not to say things they don't mean," said Maggie. + +"No more they oughtn't, but yet you see they do sometimes." + +"And she said mamma took on," said Maggie, "and mamma would not do such +a thing; mamma is a lady, and ladies do not take on." + +This seemed to amuse Mr. Jones more than anything else, and he laughed +so loud and so long that Mrs. Jones came out to the kitchen door. +"Sam'l," she called, "what are you making all that noise about?" + +"Oh, don't tell her!" said Maggie; while Mr. Jones laughed harder than +ever, and she saw that Mrs. Jones was coming towards them. + +"Don't you be afraid," said Mr. Jones, "I aint goin' to tell her." + +"Now aint you just ashamed of yourself, Sam'l," said Mrs. Jones as she +came up, "to be making all that hee-hawing, and poor Miss Bradford and +that little sick lamb lying asleep? Do you want to wake 'em up? Is he +laughing at you, Maggie?" + +Maggie hung her head, and looked as if she would like to run away. + +"I s'pose he's just tickled to death about some of your long words, +that he thinks so funny," said Mrs. Jones. "It does not take much to +set him going. Never you mind him, come along with me to the kitchen, +and see the nice ginger cakes I am makin' for your supper. I'll make +you and Bessie a gingerbread man apiece. Such good children you was +yesterday, keeping so quiet when the baby was sick, and trying to help +yourselves when your poor 'ma and your nurse was busy. If it had been +them young ones that was here last summer, they'd have kept the house +in a riot from night till morning when they was left to themselves. +Jane was tellin' me how nicely you dressed yourself and Bessie this +morning. Now, Sam'l, you stop bein' such a goose." + +Poor Maggie did not know which way to look. Here was Mrs. Jones, whom +she had just been saying she did not like, praising and petting her and +promising gingerbread men; and oh, Mr. Jones was laughing so! He was +not laughing out loud now, but he was shaking all over, and when Maggie +peeped at him from under her eyelashes, he twinkled his eyes at her, +as much as to say, "Now, what do you think of her?" Right glad was she +when Harry called her to take her turn at the swing, and she could run +away out of sight of Mr. and Mrs. Jones. + +In a few days the dear baby was quite well and bright again, while her +little sisters thought they loved her more than ever, now that she had +been spared to them when they had so much feared they were to lose her. + + + + +XII. + +_MISS ADAMS._ + + +Among the many pleasures which Maggie and Bessie Bradford enjoyed at +Quam Beach, there was none which they liked much better than going over +to the hotel to see the dear friends who were staying there. Sometimes +it was to stay a while with grandmamma and Aunt Annie; perhaps to take +a meal with them at the long hotel table; to hear grandmamma's stories, +or to have a frolic with Aunt Annie and their little playmates. Aunt +Annie was a young girl herself, merry and full of mischief, and liked +play almost as well as Maggie. Then there were those delightful visits +to Colonel and Mrs. Rush, which the colonel said he enjoyed more than +they did; but they thought that could not be possible. They knew a good +many of the other people, too, and almost every one was pleased to see +the two well-behaved, ladylike little girls. + +But there was staying at the hotel a lady who used to amaze Maggie +and Bessie very much. Her name was Miss Adams. She was very tall and +rather handsome, with bright, flashing black eyes, a beautiful color in +her cheeks, and very white teeth. But she had a loud, rough voice and +laugh, and a rude, wild manner, which was more like that of a coarse +man than a young lady. Then she talked very strangely, using a great +many words which are called "slang," and which are not nice for any +one to use, least of all for a lady. Maggie ran away whenever she came +near; but Bessie would stand and watch her with a grave, disapproving +air, which was very amusing to those who saw it. + +Miss Adams generally had a number of gentlemen around her, with whom +she was very familiar, calling them by their names without any "Mr.," +slapping them on the shoulder, laughing and talking at the top of her +voice, and altogether behaving in a very unladylike way. But Bessie +thought it very strange that sometimes, when Miss Adams had been acting +in this rough, noisy manner, after she went away, the gentlemen would +shrug their shoulders, and laugh and talk among themselves, as if they +were making unkind remarks about her. She thought they could not like +her very much, after all, when they did so. + +One evening Harry came home from the hotel in a state of great +indignation. Miss Adams had a beautiful dog named Carlo. He was a +water spaniel, and was a great favorite with all the boys, who often +coaxed him to the shore, where they could play with him. Miss Adams was +generally willing enough to have him go; but that afternoon, when she +was going out in her pony carriage, she wanted him to go with her, and +he was not to be found. Something had happened before to put her out, +and she was very angry at Carlo's absence. She had gone but a little +way, when it began to rain, and she had to turn back. This vexed her +still more; and just as she jumped from her carriage, Carlo ran up. + +"So, sir," she said, with an angry frown, "I'll teach you to run away +without leave!" and taking the poor dog by the back of the neck, she +thrashed him with the horse-whip she held in her other hand. Carlo +whined and howled, and looked up in her face with pitiful eyes; but she +only whipped him the harder. The ladies turned pale and walked away, +and the gentlemen begged her to stop, but all in vain; she kept on +until her arm was quite tired, and then the poor dog crept away shaking +and trembling all over. The boys were furious, and Maggie and Bessie +were very much distressed when they heard the story, and disliked Miss +Adams more than ever. + +When the baby was quite well again, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford took a drive +of some miles, to spend the day with an old friend. They took only +baby and nurse with them, and Maggie and Bessie went up to the hotel +to stay with their grandmamma. It was a very warm day, and grandmamma +called them indoors earlier than usual. But they did not care much, for +Aunt Annie was a capital playmate, and she amused them for a long time. + +But just as she was in the midst of a most interesting story, some +ladies came to make a visit to grandmamma. One of the ladies was old +and rather cross, and she did not like children, and Aunt Annie thought +that it would not be very pleasant for her little nieces to be in the +room while she was there. So she gave them a pack of picture cards and +a basket of shells, and said they might go and play with them on one of +the long settees which stood on the piazza. + +There were only one or two people on the piazza, and the children +spread out their shells and pictures, and were very busy and happy for +some time. They heard Miss Adams' loud voice in the hall, but did not +pay any attention to her. + +Presently she came out on the piazza, followed by three or four +gentlemen, and looked around for a shady place. She saw none that she +liked as well as that where Maggie and Bessie were playing, and coming +up to them, she sat down on the other end of the bench. The gentlemen +stood around. + +"Here, Thorn," said Miss Adams, "sit down here;" and she moved nearer +to Bessie, sweeping down some of the shells and pictures with her +skirts. Mr. Thorn obeyed, and Maggie whispered to Bessie, "Let's go +away." Bessie said, "Yes;" and they began to gather up their treasures, +Maggie stooping to pick up those which Miss Adams had thrown down. +Presently Bessie felt a pretty hard pull at one of her long curls. She +was sure it was Miss Adams, although she did not see her; but she said +nothing, only shook back her hair, and put on the look she always did +when Miss Adams was doing anything of which she did not approve. + +There came another pull, this time a little harder. "Don't," said +Bessie. + +A third pull, just as Maggie raised her head and saw Miss Adams' hand +at Bessie's hair. + +"Don't!" said Bessie again, in a louder and more impatient tone. + +"Come now, Lovatt," said Miss Adams, "are you not ashamed to be pulling +a young lady's hair?" + +"Oh!" said Maggie, astonished out of her shyness, "you did it yourself! +I saw you." + +Miss Adams shook her fist at Maggie, and then gave a longer and harder +pull at Bessie's hair. + +"When I tell you _to don't_, why _don't_ you don't?" said Bessie, +furiously, stamping her foot, and turning to Miss Adams, her face +crimson with anger. + +Miss Adams and the gentlemen set up a shout of laughter, and Mr. +Lovatt, who was standing just behind Bessie, caught her up in his arms +and held her high in the air. + +Now Bessie disliked Mr. Lovatt almost as much as she did Miss Adams. He +was a great tease, and was always running after her and trying to kiss +her. He had never done it yet, for she had always managed to run away +from him, or some of her friends had interfered to save her from being +annoyed. + +"Put me down!" she said. + +"Not until you have given me three kisses," said Mr. Lovatt. "I have +you now, and you cannot help yourself." + +"Put me down!" screamed Bessie, furious with passion. + +"For shame, Lovatt!" said Mr. Thorn, and Mr. Lovatt looked for a moment +as if he was going to put Bessie down; but Miss Adams laughed and +said,-- + +"You are not going to let that little mite get the better of you? +_Make_ her kiss you. Such airs!" + +Mr. Lovatt lowered the struggling child a little, but still held her +fast in his arms, while Maggie ran off to call her grandmamma. + +"Kiss me, and I'll let you go," said Mr. Lovatt. + +"I wont, I wont!" shrieked Bessie. "I'll tell my papa." + +"Your papa is far away," said Miss Adams. + +"I'll tell Colonel Yush!" gasped Bessie. + +"Do you think I care a _rush_ for him?" said Mr. Lovatt, as he tried to +take the kisses she would not give. Bessie screamed aloud, clinched one +little hand in Mr. Lovatt's hair, and with the other struck with all +her force upon the mouth that was so near her own. + +"Whew!" said Mr. Lovatt, as he quickly set Bessie upon her feet, "who +would have thought that tiny hand could have stung so?" + +"You little tiger!" said Miss Adams, seizing Bessie by the shoulder and +giving her a shake. "You are the child they call so good; are you? Why, +there's not another in the house would have flown into such a passion +for nothing. What a furious temper!" + +Bessie had never been shaken before. It was a punishment which Mr. and +Mrs. Bradford would not have thought proper for a child, were she +ever so naughty, and she had never been punished at all by any one but +her father or mother, and that but seldom. But it was not so much the +shaking as Miss Adams' words which sobered Bessie in an instant. She +had been in a passion again! She stood perfectly silent, her lips and +cheeks growing so white that Miss Adams was frightened, but just then +Mrs. Stanton stepped out on the piazza and came quickly toward them. +They all looked ashamed and uncomfortable as the stately old lady +lifted her little granddaughter in her arms and spoke a few words of +stern reproof to the thoughtless young people who could find amusement +in tormenting a little child. Then she carried Bessie away. + + + + +XIII. + +_BESSIE'S REPENTANCE._ + + +Mrs. Stanton would have come sooner, but her visitors were just leaving +when Maggie came in, and she did not quite understand at first how it +was. Miss Ellery, a young lady who had been standing by, rushed into +Mrs. Stanton's room after she carried Bessie in, and told her how the +little girl had been treated. Mrs. Stanton was very much displeased, +but just now she could think of nothing but the child's distress. She +shook all over, and the sobs and tears came faster and faster till +grandmamma was afraid she would be ill. She soothed and comforted and +petted in vain. Bessie still cried as if her heart would break. All she +could say was, "Oh, mamma, mamma! I want my own mamma!" + +At last Mrs. Stanton said kindly but firmly, "Bessie, my child, you +_must_ be quiet. You will surely be sick. Grandmamma is very sorry for +you, but your head cannot hurt you so very much now." + +"Oh, no!" sobbed the little girl, clinging about her grandmother's +neck, "it isn't that, grandmamma; I don't care much if she did pull my +hair; but oh, I was so wicked! I was in a passion again, and I was _so_ +bad! I struck that man, I know I did. Jesus will be sorry, and he will +be angry with me too. He will think that I don't want to be his little +child any more, 'cause I was so very, very naughty. Oh! what shall I +do?" + +"Tell Jesus that you are sorry, and ask him to forgive you, Bessie," +said grandmamma, gently. + +"Oh! I am 'fraid he can't," sobbed Bessie; "he must be so very angry. +I didn't think about him, and I didn't try one bit, grandmamma. I just +thought about what Miss Adams and that man did to me, and I was in such +a dreadful passion; I never was so bad before. Oh, I wish I could tell +my own mamma about it!" + +All this was said with many sobs and tears and catchings of her breath, +and grandmamma wished that Miss Adams could see the distress she had +caused. + +"Bessie," she said, "why did Jesus come down from heaven and die on the +cross?" + +"So our Father in heaven could forgive us," answered the child more +quietly. + +"And do you not think that his precious blood is enough to wash away +our great sins as well as those which we may think are smaller?" + +"Yes, grandmamma." + +"Now, no sin is small in the eyes of a just and holy God, Bessie; but +when he made such a great sacrifice for us, it was that he might be +able to forgive _every one_ of our sins against him, if we are truly +sorry for them. And he will surely do so, my darling, and help and love +us still, if we ask him for the sake of that dear Son." + +"And will he listen to me _now_, grandmamma, just when I was so very +naughty?" + +"Yes, he is always ready to hear us. No matter how much we have grieved +him, he will not turn away when we call upon him." + +Bessie was silent for some minutes with her face hidden on her +grandmother's neck, and her sobs became less violent. At last she +whispered, "Grandmamma, do you think Jesus can love me just as much as +he did before?" + +"Just as much, my precious one," said grandmamma, drawing her arms +close about Bessie, and pressing her lips on the little curly head. +Then Bessie raised her face and turned around in her grandmamma's lap. +A very pale little face it was, and very weak and tired she looked; +but she lay quite quiet now except for a long sob which still came +now and then. Maggie wondered why grandmamma bit her lip, and why her +eyebrows drew together in a frown, as if she were angry. She could not +be displeased with Bessie now, she thought. + +Presently grandmamma began to sing in a low voice,-- + + "Just as I am, without one plea, + Save that thy blood was shed for me, + And that thou bid'st me come to thee, + O Lamb of God! I come. + + "Just as I am, and waiting not + To rid my soul of one dark blot, + To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, + O Lamb of God! I come. + + "Just as I am thou wilt receive, + Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, + Because thy promise I believe, + O Lamb of God! I come. + + "Just as I am,--thy love unknown + Has broken every barrier down; + Now to be thine, yea, thine alone + O Lamb of God! I come." + +When she had sung one verse, Maggie joined in, and Bessie lay +listening. When they were through, Mrs. Stanton put Bessie down in a +corner of the lounge, and said the children must have some lunch. First +she rang the bell, and then went to a little cupboard at the side of +the fireplace and brought out two small white plates, which Maggie and +Bessie knew quite well. Presently the waiter came to the door to know +what Mrs. Stanton wanted. This was James, the head waiter. He knew +Maggie and Bessie, and they were great favorites with him. His wife +washed for some of the ladies in the hotel, and once when she came +there with some clothes, she brought her little girl with her, and left +her in the hall with her father, who was busy there. She was a _very_ +little girl, and could just walk alone, and while she was toddling +about after her father, she fell down and knocked her head against the +corner of a door. She cried very hard, and James tried to quiet her, +lest she should disturb some of the boarders. But she had a great bump +on her head, and she did not see any reason why she should be still +when it hurt her so. She was still crying when Maggie and Bessie came +through the hall. Each had a stick of candy, which some one had just +given them. When they heard the little one crying, they stopped to ask +what ailed her. + +"I'll give her my candy," said Maggie. + +"Yes, do," said Bessie, "and I'll give you half of mine." + +The child stopped crying when she had the nice stick of candy. James +was very much pleased, and after that he was always glad to wait upon +our little girls. He had just now heard the story of Bessie's trouble, +for Miss Ellery had taken pains to spread it through the house, so +vexed was she at Miss Adams, and James had been by when she was telling +some of the ladies. He felt very sorry for Bessie, and wished that he +could do something for her. When he came to answer Mrs. Stanton's ring, +she asked him to bring some bread and butter. + +"Is it for the little ladies, ma'am?" asked James. Mrs. Stanton said, +"Yes," and James asked if they would not like toast better. Two or +three times when Maggie and Bessie had taken tea with their grandmamma, +he had noticed that Bessie always asked for toast. Mrs. Stanton +thanked him and said yes, for she thought perhaps Bessie would eat +toast when she would not eat bread. + +"But can I have it at this time of the day?" she said. + +"No fear, ma'am," said James. "You shall have it, if I make it myself;" +and with a nod to the children, he went away. + +Bessie sat quiet in a corner of the sofa, still looking very grave. + +"Don't you feel happy now, Bessie?" said Maggie, creeping close to her, +and putting her arm around her. "I am sure Jesus will forgive you." + +"Yes, I think he will," said Bessie; "but I can't help being sorry +'cause I was so naughty." + +"You was not half so bad as Miss Adams, if you did get into a passion," +said Maggie, "and I don't believe he'll forgive her." + +"Oh, Maggie!" said Bessie. + +"Well, I don't believe she'll ask him." + +"Then I'll ask him," said Bessie. + +"Now, Bessie, don't you do it!" + +"But I ought to ask him, if I want him to forgive me," said Bessie. +"When we say 'Our Father in heaven,' we say 'Forgive us our sins as we +forgive those that sin against us.' I think Miss Adams sinned against +me a little bit; don't you, Maggie?" + +"No, I don't," said Maggie. "No little bit about it. _I_ think she +sinned against you a great bit,--as much as the whole ocean." + +"Then if I want Jesus to forgive me, I ought to forgive her, and to +ask him to forgive her too. I think I ought. I'm going to ask mamma +to-night." + +"_I_ sha'n't do it, I know," said Maggie. "I wish I was as tall as she +is; no,--as tall as papa or Colonel Rush, and oh! wouldn't she get it +then!" + +"What would you do?" asked Bessie. + +"I don't know,--something. Oh, yes! don't you know the pictures of +Bluebeard's wives, where they're all hanging up by their hair? I'd +just hang her up that way, and then _her_ hair would be nicely pulled. +And I'd get the boys to come and poke her with sticks." Maggie said +this, shaking her head with a very determined look. + +The idea of Miss Adams hanging up by her hair made Bessie laugh; but +in a moment she looked grave again. "I don't believe that's yight, +Maggie," she said. + +"I don't care," said Maggie. "I'm going to say it." + +Just then James came back, and they forgot Miss Adams for a while. He +brought a nice plate of toast and some butter. Grandmamma spread two +pieces of toast and laid them on the little plates, and then went back +again to the famous cupboard and brought out--oh, delicious!--a box of +guava jelly. She put a spoonful on each plate, and gave them to the +children. "Now, remember," she said, "the jelly goes with the toast." + +Bessie looked rather doubtfully at her toast. "Grandmamma, I don't feel +very hungry." + +"But you must eat something, Bessie; it is long after your luncheon +time, and it will not do for you to go until dinner without eating. +Mamma will think I did not take good care of you." + +But the toast tasted so good with the guava jelly that Bessie eat the +whole of hers and even asked for more, to grandma's great pleasure. +When she brought it to her with some more jelly, she saw that Bessie +had still some of the sweetmeats left on her plate. "Don't you like +your jelly, dear?" she asked. + +"Yes, ma'am," said Bessie, "but I didn't know if I could eat all the +toast, and I thought perhaps you only wanted me to eat just so much +share of the guava as I eat a share of the toast; so I eat that first +to be sure." + +Grandma smiled, but she did not praise her honest little granddaughter, +for she did not think it best. + +When Aunt Annie heard Miss Ellery tell how Bessie had been treated, she +was very angry, and said some things about Miss Adams and Mr. Lovatt +which her mother did not wish to have her say before the children. She +told her so, speaking in French; so Annie said no more just then; but +as soon as Bessie ceased crying, she ran out to tell Miss Adams what +she thought of her conduct. But happily Miss Adams was not to be found, +and before Annie saw her again, her mother had persuaded her that it +was better to say nothing about it. + +But now when she could not find Miss Adams, she went off to Mrs. +Rush's room and told her and the colonel the whole story. The colonel +was angry enough to please even Annie. He said so much, and grew so +excited, that Mrs. Rush was sorry Annie had told him. He was far more +displeased than he would have been with any insult to himself, and +when, soon after, he met Mr. Lovatt in the hall, he spoke so severely +and angrily to him that Mr. Lovatt was much offended. Very high words +passed between the two gentlemen, and the quarrel might have become +serious, if Mr. Howard had not interfered. + +Miss Adams heard all this, and when she found how much trouble and +confusion she had caused by her cruel thoughtlessness, she felt rather +ashamed, and wished she had not tormented the little child who had +never done her any harm. But this was not the last of it, for Miss +Adams was to be punished a little by the last person who meant to do +it. + + + + +XIV. + +_WHO IS A LADY?_ + + +In the afternoon the children asked their grandmother if they might go +down upon the beach, but she said it was still too warm, and she did +not wish Bessie to go out until the sun was down. + +"Grandma is going to take her nap now," said Aunt Annie; "suppose we +go out on the piazza and have a store, and ask Lily and Gracie to come +play with you." + +"Is Miss Adams there?" asked Maggie. + +"No, but the colonel has had his arm-chair taken out, and is sitting +there with Mrs. Rush, and I am going there with my work; so you will be +quite safe." + +"Oh, then we'll go," said Bessie. She did not feel afraid where the +colonel was. + +"Are you going to sew with Mrs. Rush again?" asked Maggie. + +Aunt Annie laughed and pinched her cheeks, telling her not to be +inquisitive. For the last few days Aunt Annie had always seemed to be +sewing with Mrs. Rush, and they were very busy, but they did not appear +to wish to let the little girls know what they were doing. Annie was +always whisking her work out of their sight, and if they asked any +questions, they were put off, or told, as Maggie was now, not to be +curious. + +Once when they were staying with the colonel, when Mrs. Rush had gone +out for a while, he sent Bessie to a certain drawer to find a knife. +Bessie did as she was told, but as she was looking for it, she suddenly +called out, "Oh, what a dear darling little cap! just like a dolly's. +Why, does Mrs. Yush play with dolls when nobody looks at her?" + +"Holloa!" said the colonel, "I forgot; come away from that drawer. I'm +a nice man; can't keep my own secrets." + +Maggie was going to ask some questions; but the colonel began to talk +about something else, and they both forgot the little cap. But they +were very curious to know why Aunt Annie and Mrs. Rush were always +whispering and laughing and showing each other their work, as well as +why it was so often put away when they came near. To-day Aunt Annie was +embroidering a little piece of muslin, but she did not put it out of +their sight, though she would answer no questions about it. + +They all went out on the piazza to set about making what Maggie called, +"A Grocery and _Perwision_ Store." The piazza steps ended in two large +blocks of wood, and on one of these they were to play. Aunt Annie made +some paper boxes to hold some of their things, and they had clam shells +for the rest. They had sand for sugar, blades of timothy grass for +corn, sea-weed for smoked beef and ham, and small pebbles for eggs, +with larger ones for potatoes. In short, it was quite wonderful to see +the number of things they contrived to have for sale. When the colonel +found what they were about, he called for a couple of clam shells, and +sent his man for a piece of wood and some twine; with these he made a +pair of scales, which Maggie and Bessie thought quite splendid. To be +sure, one side was ever so much heavier than the other, but that did +not matter in the least; neither they nor their customers would be +troubled by a trifle like that. Then he gave them a couple of bullets +and some shot for weights, so that the whole thing was fixed in fine +style. + +Maggie went to call Lily and Gracie, and when Mamie Stone heard what +was going on, she asked if she might come too. Maggie said "Yes," for +Mamie was not so disagreeable as she used to be when she first came to +Quam Beach. However fretful and selfish she was when she was playing +with other children, she was almost always pleasant when she was with +Maggie and Bessie. + +Maggie went back with her to their little playmates, and in a few +moments they were all as busy as bees. Maggie said Bessie must be +store-keeper, for she knew she did not feel like running about. + +They had been playing but a little while, when Walter came up, and when +he saw what they were doing, he said he would be a customer too. He +was a capital playfellow, and pretended to be ever so many different +people. First, he was an old negro man, then he was a naughty boy, who +meddled with everything on the counter, and gave the little shop-woman +a great deal of trouble, which she enjoyed very much; then he was a +Frenchman, who spoke broken English; and after that, he pretended to be +a cross old Irishman. + +While they were playing so nicely, who should come sweeping down the +piazza but Miss Adams, dressed in her riding-habit? Away went all the +little girls like a flock of frightened birds. Mamie and Lily ran into +the parlor, where they peeped at her from behind the blinds; Gracie +scrambled into Annie Stanton's lap; Maggie squeezed herself in between +the colonel and Mrs. Rush; and Bessie walked to the other side of the +colonel, where she stood with her hand on his chair. + +Miss Adams was vexed when she saw them all fly off so, for she had not +come with any intention of interrupting or teasing them. She was going +out to ride, and had walked to the window of the hall above, to see if +the horses were at the door, and there she had noticed the children at +their play. + +Bessie stood quietly behind her counter, while the rest ran about after +Maggie. She looked more pale and languid than usual that afternoon, as +she always did when she had been tired or excited. All the soft pink +color which had come into her cheek since she had been at Quam Beach +was quite gone; it was no wonder that grandma frowned and bit her lip +to keep herself from saying sharp things when she looked at her darling +that day. + +Now, Miss Adams always said that she was afraid of nobody, and did not +care what people said of her; but as she watched the delicate little +child, who she knew had been brought by her parents to the sea-shore +that she might gain health and strength, she felt sorry that she had +plagued her so, and thought that she would like to make it up with +her. She went into her room, put a large packet of sugar-plums into +her pocket, and then went down stairs. She came up to Bessie just as +the little girl reached the colonel's side, and, standing before her, +said,-- + +"Well, Bessie, are you in a better humor yet?" + +Bessie was certainly not pale now. A very bright color had come into +her cheeks, as Miss Adams spoke to her, but she said nothing. + +"Come," said Miss Adams, holding out the parcel, "here are some +sugar-plums for you; come, kiss me and make up." + +"I'll forgive you," said Bessie, gravely; "but I don't want the +sugar-plums." + +"Oh, yes, you do!" said Miss Adams; "come and kiss me for them." + +"I don't kiss people for sugar-plums," said Bessie; "and I'm sure I +don't want them." + +"Then come and kiss me without the sugar-plums." + +"No," said Bessie, "I'll shake hands with you, but I don't kiss people +I don't like." + +"Oh!" said Miss Adams, "I suppose you keep all your kisses for your +friend, the colonel." + +"Oh, no," answered Bessie, "a great many are for papa and mamma, and +the yest of the people I like." + +Miss Adams saw that the colonel was laughing behind his newspaper, and +she was provoked. + +"And you don't like me, eh?" she said, sharply. "Don't you know it's +very rude to tell a lady you don't like her, and wont kiss her?" + +Bessie opened her eyes very wide. "Are you a lady?" she asked, in a +tone of great surprise. + +Mrs. Rush did not wish to have Miss Adams go on talking to the child, +for she was afraid straightforward Bessie would say something which +would cause fresh trouble; and she begged Annie Stanton to take her +away; but Annie would not; she rather enjoyed the prospect, and when +Mrs. Rush would have spoken herself, her husband put out his hand and +stopped her. + +"A lady!" repeated Miss Adams; "what do you take me for? Don't you know +a lady when you see one?" + +"Oh, yes," answered Bessie, innocently. "Mamma's a lady, and grandma +and Aunt Annie and Mrs. Yush, and ever so many others." + +"And I'm not, eh?" said Miss Adams, angrily. + +Bessie did not answer, but peeped up under the colonel's paper, to see +if he would help her; but he did not seem inclined to interfere. His +eyes were fixed on the paper which he held before his face, and his +other hand was busily engaged in smoothing his moustache. + +Miss Adams was very angry. She would not have cared if she had been +alone with Bessie; but she was provoked that she should tell her she +was not a lady, before so many people, for two or three gentlemen had +gathered near, and the colonel's amusement vexed her still more. + +"You don't call me a lady, eh?" said Miss Adams again. + +"How can you quarrel with such a baby about nothing, Miss Adams?" said +Mrs. Rush, rising from her seat. + +"She is no baby. She knows very well what she is about, and she has +been put up to this," said Miss Adams, with a furious look at the +colonel. "Who told you I was not a lady?" + +"Nobody; I just knew it myself," said Bessie, drawing closer to the +colonel, as Miss Adams came nearer to her. He threw down his paper, and +put his hand over her shoulder. + +"You little impertinent!" said Miss Adams, "who made you a judge, I +should like to know? Not a lady, indeed!" + +Poor Bessie! She would not say what she did not think, and she did not +like to say what she did think; but she was tired of the dispute, and +thought Miss Adams would have an answer. She gave a long sigh, and +said,-- + +"Well, perhaps you are a kind of a lady; but if you are, it must be a +kitchen or stable lady." + +The gentlemen who were standing by walked quickly away; Mrs. Rush +looked frightened; Annie bent her head down on Gracie's shoulder, and +shook with laughter; and the colonel reached his crutches and, rising, +began to steady himself. + +Miss Adams stood silent a moment, and then began to speak in a voice +almost choked with rage, "You little--" when the colonel interrupted +her. + +"Excuse me, madam," he said, "if I remind you that you have no one to +blame for this but yourself. The child is straightforward and honest, +accustomed to speak as she thinks; and if she has said what was better +left unsaid, remember that you forced her to it. I cannot permit her to +be annoyed any farther." + +Helpless as he was, he looked so grand and tall as he stood there with +his eyes fixed sternly on Miss Adams, that she felt abashed. Mrs. Rush +had taken Bessie into her room, Annie had followed with Maggie and +Gracie, and there was no one left to quarrel with but the colonel. Just +at that moment the horses were led up, and she turned away and went +down the steps to mount. + +But Miss Adams had never been so annoyed. She had no mother, or perhaps +she would not have been so rough and unladylike; but she had had many +a reproof from other people. Many a grave, elderly lady, and even some +of her own age, had spoken, some kindly, some severely, upon the wild, +boisterous manner in which she chose to behave. But she had always +laughed at all they said, and went on as before. But that this innocent +little child, to whom she had been so unkind, should see for herself +that she had acted in an improper way, and one that was only fit for +the kitchen or stable, and should tell her so, and show such surprise +at hearing her call herself a lady, was very mortifying, and she could +not forget it. + +That evening, when Mr. and Mrs. Bradford came home, they went over +to the hotel for their little girls, and Annie told them all that +had happened that day. After Bessie was undressed, and had said her +prayers, she sat on her mother's lap, and told her of all her troubles, +and then she felt happier. + +"Mamma, I'm afraid I made Miss Adams mad, when I said that, and I +didn't mean to," she said. + +"But why did you say it, Bessie?--it was saucy." + +"Why, I had to, mamma; I didn't want to; but I couldn't _break the +truth_; she asked me and asked me, so I had to." + +"Oh, my Bessie, my Bessie!" said mamma, with a low laugh, and then she +held the little girl very close in her arms, and kissed her. Bessie +nestled her head down on her mamma's bosom, and her mother held her +there, and rocked her long after she was fast asleep. Sometimes she +smiled to herself as she sat thinking and watching her child; but +once or twice a bright tear dropped down on Bessie's curls. Mamma +was praying that her little girl might live to grow up and be a good +Christian woman, and that she might always love the truth as she did +now, even when she was older and knew it was not wise to say such +things as she had done to-day. + + + + +XV. + +_UNCLE JOHN._ + + +"A letter from Uncle John!" said mamma, at the breakfast-table. "I hope +Nellie is no worse. No, she is better; but the doctor has ordered sea +air for her, and they all want to come here, if we can find room for +them, either in this house or in the hotel." + +"The hotel is full, I know," said Mr. Bradford; "I do not think there +is a room to be had. I wonder if Mrs. Jones can do anything for us." + +"I think not," said Mrs. Bradford. "Old Mr. Duncan must be with them +wherever they go, for John is not willing to leave his father alone." + +"We can ask her, at least," said Mr. Bradford. + +So the next time Mrs. Jones came in with a plate full of hot cakes, +she was asked if she could possibly take in Mr. Duncan's family. + +"Couldn't do it," she said. "If you didn't mind scroudging, I could +give 'em one room; but two, I can't do it. I've plenty of beds, but no +more rooms." + +Maggie and Bessie looked very much disappointed. It would be such a +pleasure to have Grandpapa Duncan, and all the rest. + +"Suppose we gave up this little dining-room, and took our meals in the +sitting-room," said Mr. Bradford; "could you put old Mr. Duncan in +here?" + +"Oh, yes, well enough," said Mrs. Jones. "Didn't suppose you'd be +willing to do that, York folks is so partickler." + +"We would be willing to do far more than that to accommodate our +friends," said Mrs. Bradford, smiling. + +After a little more talk with Mrs. Jones, it was all settled; so mamma +sat down to write to Uncle John, telling him they might come as soon as +they chose. + +"Mamma," said Maggie, "what did Mrs. Jones mean by 'scroudging'?" + +"She meant to crowd." + +"I sha'n't take it for one of my words," said Maggie; "I don't think it +sounds nice." + +"No," said mamma, laughing, "I do not think it is a very pretty word; +crowd is much better." + +The children went out in the front porch, greatly pleased with the +idea of having their Riverside friends with them. Dear Grandpapa +Duncan and Aunt Helen, merry Uncle John and little Nellie! Maggie went +hopping about the path, while Bessie sat down on the steps with a very +contented smile. Presently she said,-- + +"Maggie, if you was on the grass, what would you be?" + +"I don't know," said Maggie; "just Maggie Stanton Bradford, I suppose." + +"You'd be a grasshopper," said Bessie. + +Maggie stopped hopping to laugh. She thought this a very fine joke; and +when, a moment after, her brothers came up to the house, she told them +of Bessie's "conundrum." They laughed, too, and then ran off to the +barn. + +Maggie sat down on the step by her sister. "Bessie," she said, +"don't you think Mrs. Jones is very horrid, even if she does make us +gingerbread men?" + +"Not very; I think she is a little horrid." + +"I do," said Maggie; "she talks so; she called papa and mamma 'York +folks.'" + +"What does that mean?" asked Bessie. + +"I don't know; something not nice, I'm sure." + +"Here comes papa," said Bessie; "we'll ask him. Papa, what did Mrs. +Jones mean by York folks?" + +"She meant people from New York," said Mr. Bradford. + +"Then why don't she say that?" said Maggie; "it sounds better." + +"Well, that is her way of talking," answered Mr. Bradford. + +"Do you think it a nice way, papa?" + +"Not very. I should be sorry to have you speak as she does; but you +must remember that the people with whom she has lived are accustomed to +talk in that way, and she does not know any better." + +"Then we'll teach her," said Maggie. "I'll tell her she doesn't talk +properly, and that we're going to teach her." + +"Indeed, you must do nothing of the kind," said Mr. Bradford, smiling +at the idea of his shy Maggie teaching Mrs. Jones; "she would be very +much offended." + +"Why, papa," said Bessie, "don't she like to do what is yight?" + +"Yes, so far as I can tell, she wishes to do right; but probably she +thinks she speaks very well, and she would think it impertinent if two +such little girls were to try to teach her. It is not really wrong for +a person to talk in the way she does, if they know no better. It would +be wrong and vulgar for you to do so, because you have been taught to +speak correctly." + +"And do we do it?" said Bessie. "Do we speak coryectly?" + +"Pretty well for such little girls," said papa. + +"Mrs. Jones laughs at us because she says we use such big words," said +Maggie; "and Mr. Jones does too. They ought not to do it, when they +don't know how to talk themselves. I like grown-up words, and I am +going to say them, if they do laugh." + +"Well, there is no harm in that, if you understand their meaning," said +papa; "but I would not feel unkindly towards Mrs. Jones; she means to +be good and kind to you, and I think she is so; and you must not mind +if her manner is not always very pleasant." + +"But she called you and mamma particular," said Maggie, who was +determined not to be pleased with Mrs. Jones. + +"Well, if Mrs. Jones thinks we are too particular about some things, +we think she is not particular enough; so neither one thinks the other +quite perfect." + +Maggie did not think this mended the matter at all. But just then +the nurses came with the younger children, and after their father had +played with them for a while, they all went for their morning walk on +the beach. + +Two days after, the party came from Riverside, and, with some crowding, +were all made comfortable. They almost lived out of doors in this +beautiful weather, and so did not mind some little inconveniences in +the house. + +Uncle John was always ready for a frolic. Now he would hire Mr. Jones' +large farm wagon and two horses, cover the bottom of the wagon with +straw, pack in Aunt Annie and the little Bradfords, and as many other +boys and girls as it would hold, and start off for a long drive. Then +he said they must have a clam-bake, and a clam-bake they had; not only +one, but several. Sometimes Uncle John would invite their friends from +the hotel, and they would have quite a grand affair; but, generally, +they had only their own family, with Mrs. Rush, and the colonel when he +was well enough to come; and the children enjoyed the smaller parties +much more than they did the larger ones. First, a large, shallow hole +was made in the sand, in which the clams were placed, standing on end; +a fire was built on top of them, and they were left until they were +well roasted, when they were pulled out and eaten with bread and butter. + +When Mrs. Jones found how fond the children were of roast clams, she +often had them for their breakfast or supper; but they never tasted so +good as they did when they were cooked in the sand and eaten on the +shore. + +One cool, bright afternoon, Mr. Bradford and Mr. Duncan went down to +the beach for a walk. The children had been out for some time: Maggie +was racing about with the boys; Bessie, sitting on the sand beside a +pool of salt water, looking into it so earnestly that she did not see +her father and uncle till they were quite close to her. + +"What is my little girl looking at?" said her father, sitting down on a +great stone which was near. + +"Such an ugly thing!" said Bessie. + +Papa leaned forward and looked into the pool, and there he saw the +thing Bessie thought so ugly. It was a small salt-water crab which had +been left there by the tide. He was very black and had long, sprawling +legs, spreading out in every direction. He lay quite still in the +bottom of the pool, with his great eyes staring straight forward, +and did not seem to be in the least disturbed by the presence of his +visitors. + +"What do you suppose he is thinking about, Bessie?" said Uncle John. + +"I guess he thinks he looks pretty nasty," said Bessie; "I do." + +"Bessie," said her father, "it seems to me that you and Maggie say +'nasty' very often. I do not think it is at all a pretty word for +little girls to use." + +"Then I wont say it," said Bessie; "but when a thing looks--looks +_that_ way, what shall I say?" + +"You might say ugly," said Mr. Bradford. + +"But, papa, sometimes a thing looks ugly, and not nasty. I think that +animal looks ugly and nasty too." + +"Tell us of something that is ugly, but not nasty," said Uncle John. + +Bessie looked very hard at her uncle. Now Mr. Duncan was not at all a +handsome man. He had a pleasant, merry, good-natured face, but he was +certainly no beauty. Bessie looked at him, and he looked back at her, +with his eyes twinkling, and the corners of his mouth twitching with a +smile, for he thought he knew what was coming. + +"Well?" he said, when Bessie did not speak for a moment. + +"Uncle John," said she, very gravely, "I think you are ugly, but I do +not think you are nasty, a bit." + +Uncle John laughed as if he thought this a capital joke; and Mr. +Bradford smiled as he said, "It don't do to ask Bessie questions to +which you do not want a straightforward answer." + +"But I want to know about 'nasty,'" said Bessie. "Is it saying bad +grammar, like Mrs. Jones, to say it?" + +"Not exactly," said Mr. Bradford, "and you may say it when a thing +is really nasty; but I think you often use it when there is no need. +Perhaps this little fellow does look nasty as well as ugly; but the +other day I heard Maggie say that Mamie Stone was a nasty, cross child. +Now, Mamie may be cross,--I dare say she often is,--but she certainly +is not nasty, for she is always neat and clean. And this morning I +heard you say that you did not want 'that nasty bread and milk.' The +bread and milk was quite good and sweet, and not at all nasty; but you +called it so because you did not fancy it." + +"Then did I tell a wicked story?" asked Bessie, looking sober at the +thought of having said what was not true. + +"No," said papa, "you did not tell a wicked story, for you did not mean +to say that which was not so. But it is wrong to fall into the habit +of using words which seem to say so much more than we mean. But do not +look so grave about it, my darling; you did not intend to do anything +that was not right, I am sure."-- + +"But, papa," said Bessie, "why did God make ugly things?" + +"Because he thought it best, Bessie. He made everything in the way +which best fitted it for the purpose for which he intended it. This +little crab lives under the sea, where he has a great many enemies, and +where he has to find his food. With these round, staring eyes which +stand out so far from his head, he can look in every direction and see +if any danger is near, or if there is anything which may do for him +to eat. With these long, awkward legs, he can scamper out of the way, +and with those sharp claws, he fights, for he is a quarrelsome little +fellow. He can give a good pinch with them, and you had better not put +your fingers too near them. Under that hard, black shell, he has a +tender body, which would be hurt by the rocks and stones among which +he lives, if he had not something to protect it." + +Uncle John took up a stick. "Here, Johnny Crab," he said, "let us see +how you can fight;" and he put the stick in the water and stirred up +the crab. The moment he was touched, the crab began to move all his +legs, and to scuttle round the pool as if he wanted to get out. But +Uncle John did not mean to let him come out until he had shown Bessie +what a nip he could give with those pincers of his. He pushed him back, +and put the stick close to one of his larger claws. The crab took hold +of it, as if he were very angry, and such a pinch as he gave it! + +"See there, Bessie," said Uncle John, "are you not glad it is not one +of your little fingers he has hold of?" + +"Yes," said Bessie, climbing on her father's knee as the crab tried to +get out. "I didn't know he could pinch like that." + +"Or you would not have sat so quietly watching him, eh, Bessie?" said +Uncle John. "Well, romp,"--to Maggie, as she rushed up to them, rosy +and out of breath, and jumping upon the rock behind him, threw both +arms around his neck,--"well, romp, here is a gentleman who wishes to +make your acquaintance." + +"Why, Uncle John, what a horrid, nasty thing! What is it?" said Maggie, +as her uncle pushed back the crab, which was still trying to get out of +the pool. + +"There it goes again," said Uncle John,--"horrid, nasty thing! Poor +little crab!" + +"Maggie," said Bessie, "we must not say 'nasty.' Papa says it means +what we do not mean, and it's unproper. Tell her about it, papa." + +"No," said papa, "we will not have another lecture now. By and by you +may tell her. I think you can remember all I have said." + +"Now see, Maggie," said Uncle John, "you have hurt the crab's feelings +so that he is in a great hurry to run off home. I am sure his mother +thinks him a very handsome fellow, and he wants to go and tell her how +he went on his travels and met a monster who had the bad taste to call +him 'a horrid, nasty thing.'" + +"Oh," said Bessie, laughing, "what a funny Uncle John you are! But I +should think it would hurt the crab's feelings a great deal more to be +poked with a stick, and not to be let to go home when he wants to. I +don't believe he knows what Maggie says." + +"I think you are about right, Bessie; I guess we must let him go." + +So the next time the crab tried to come out of the pool, Uncle John put +the stick by his claw, and when he took hold of it, lifted him out of +the water and laid him on the sand. Away the crab scampered as fast as +his long legs could carry him, moving in a curious side-long fashion, +which amused the children very much. They followed him as near to the +water's edge as they were allowed to go, and then ran back to their +father. + + + + +XVI. + +_THE BIRTHDAY PRESENTS._ + + +The tenth of August was Maggie's birthday. She would be seven years +old, and on that day she was to have a party. At first, Mrs. Bradford +had intended to have only twenty little children at this party, but +there seemed some good reason for inviting this one and that one, until +it was found that there were about thirty to come. + +Maggie begged that she might print her own invitations on some of the +paper which Grandpapa Duncan had sent. Mamma said she might try, but +she thought Maggie would be tired before she was half through, and +she was right. By the time Maggie had printed four notes, her little +fingers were cramped, and she had to ask her mother to write the rest +for her. Mrs. Bradford did so, putting Maggie's own words on Maggie's +and Bessie's own stamped paper. Maggie said this was Bessie's party +just as much as hers, and the invitations must come from her too. So +they were written in this way. + + "Please to have the pleasure of coming to have a party with + us, on Tuesday afternoon, at four o'clock. + + "MAGGIE AND BESSIE." + +Among those which Maggie had printed herself, was one to Colonel and +Mrs. Rush. + +"What do you send them an invitation for?" said Fred. "They wont come. +The colonel can't walk so far, and Mrs. Rush wont leave him." + +"Then they can send us a _refuse_," said Maggie. "I know the colonel +can't come, but maybe Mrs. Rush will for a little while. We're going to +ask them, anyhow. They'll think it a great discompliment if we don't." + +Such busy little girls as they were on the day before the birthday! The +dolls had to be all dressed in their best, and the dolls' tea things +washed about a dozen times in the course of the morning. Then Bessie +had a birthday present for Maggie. She had been saving all her money +for some time to buy it. Papa had bought it for her, and brought it +from town the night before. Every half-hour or so, Bessie had to run +and peep at it, to be sure it was all safe, taking great care that +Maggie did not see. + +They went to bed early, that, as Maggie said, "to-morrow might come +soon," but they lay awake laughing and talking until nurse told them it +was long past their usual bedtime, and they must go right to sleep. + +The next morning Bessie was the first to wake. She knew by the light +that it was very early, not time to get up. She looked at her sister, +but Maggie showed no signs of waking. + +"Oh, this is Maggie's birthday!" said the little girl to herself. "My +dear Maggie! I wish she would wake up, so I could kiss her and wish her +a happy birthday. 'Many happy yeturns,' that's what people say when +other people have birthdays. I'll say it to Maggie when she wakes up. +But now I'll go to sleep again for a little while." + +Bessie turned over for another nap, when her eye was caught by +something on the foot of the bed. She raised her head, then sat +upright. No more thought of sleep for Bessie. She looked one moment, +then laid her hand upon her sleeping sister. + +"Maggie, dear Maggie, wake up! Just see what somebody brought here!" + +Maggie stirred, and sleepily rubbed her eyes. + +"Wake up wide, Maggie! Only look! Did you ever see such a thing?" + +Maggie opened her eyes, and sat up beside Bessie. On the foot of the +bed--one on Maggie's side, one on Bessie's--were two boxes. On each +sat a large doll--and such dolls! They had beautiful faces, waxen +hands and feet, and what Bessie called "live hair, yeal live hair." +They were dressed in little white night-gowns, and sat there before +the surprised and delighted children as if they had themselves just +wakened from sleep. Maggie threw off the bed-covers, scrambled down to +the foot of the bed, and seized the doll nearest to her. + +"Who did it, Bessie?" she said. + +"I don't know," said Bessie. "Mamma, I guess. I think they're for your +birthday." + +"Why, so I s'pose it is!" said Maggie. "Why don't you come and take +yours, Bessie?" + +"But it is not my birthday," said Bessie, creeping down to where her +sister sat. "I don't believe somebody gave me one; but you will let me +play with one; wont you, Maggie?" + +"Bessie, if anybody did be so foolish as to give me two such beautiful +dolls, do you think I'd keep them both myself, and not give you one? +Indeed, I wouldn't. And even if they only gave me one, I'd let it be +half yours, Bessie." + +Bessie put her arm about her sister's neck and kissed her, and then +took up the other doll. + +"What cunning little ni'-gowns!" she said. "I wonder if they have any +day clo's." + +"Maybe they're in these boxes," said Maggie. "I'm going to look. Gracie +Howard's aunt did a very unkind, selfish thing. She gave her a great +big doll with not a thing to put on it. I don't believe anybody would +do so to us. Oh, no! here's lots and lots of clo's! Pull off your cover +quick, Bessie. Oh, I am so very, very pleased! I know mamma did it. I +don't believe anybody else would be so kind. See, there's a white frock +and a silk frock and a muslin one, and--oh! goody, goody!--a sweet +little sack and a round hat, and petticoats and drawers and everything! +Why don't you look at yours, Bessie, and see if they are just the same?" + +"Yes," said Bessie; "they are, and here's shoes and stockings, and oh! +such a cunning parasol, and here's--oh, Maggie, here's the dear little +cap that I saw in Mrs. Yush's drawer the day the colonel sent me to +find his knife! Why, she must have done it!" + +"And look here, Bessie, at this dear little petticoat all 'broidered. +That's the very pattern we saw Aunt Annie working the day that +'bomnable Miss Adams pulled your hair. Isn't it pretty?" + +"And see, Maggie! Mrs. Yush was sewing on a piece of silk just like +this dear little dress, and she wouldn't tell us what it was. I do +believe she did it, and Aunt Annie and maybe the colonel." + +"How could the colonel make dolls' clothes?" said Maggie. "Men can't +sew." + +"Soldier men can," said Bessie. "Don't you yemember how Colonel Yush +told us he had to sew on his buttons? But I did not mean he made +the dolly's clothes, only maybe he gave us the dolls, and Mrs. Yush +and Aunt Annie made their things. Oh, here's another ni'-gown,--two +ni'-gowns!" + +"Yes," said Maggie. "I was counting, and there's two ni'-gowns, and two +chemise, and two everything, except only dresses, and there's four of +those, and they're all marked like our things,--'Bessie,' for yours, +and 'Maggie' for mine. Oh, what a happy birthday! Bessie, I'm so glad +you've got a doll too! Oh, I'm so very gratified!" + +"I have something nice for you too, Maggie. Please give me my slippers, +and I'll go and get it." + +Maggie leaned over the side of the trundle-bed, to reach her sister's +slippers, but what she saw there quite made her forget them. She gave a +little scream of pleasure, and began hugging up her knees and rolling +about the bed squealing with delight. Bessie crept to the edge of the +bed, and peeped over. There stood two little perambulators, just of the +right size for the new dolls, and in each, lay neatly folded, a tiny +affghan. + +When this new excitement was over, Bessie put on her slippers and went +for her present for Maggie. This was a little brown morocco work-bag, +lined with blue silk, and fitted up with scissors, thimble, bodkin, +and several other things. She gave it to her sister saying, "I make +you many happy yeturns, dear Maggie." Then Maggie had another fit of +rolling, tumbling, and screaming, until nurse, who was watching the +children from her bed, though they did not know it, could stand it no +longer, but broke into a hearty laugh. + +"Now, nursey," said Maggie. + +"Is it a pig or a puppy we have got here for a birthday?" said nurse. +"Sure, it is a happy one I wish you, my pet, and many of 'em, and may +you never want for nothing more than you do now. Now don't you make +such a noise there, and wake Franky. I s'pose I may just as well get up +and wash and dress you, for there'll be no more sleep, I'm thinking." + +"Who gave us these dolls and all these things, nursey?" asked Maggie. + +"Indeed, then, Bessie was just right," said nurse. "Colonel Rush gave +you the dolls, and his wife, with Miss Annie, made the clothes; and +did you ever see dolls that had such a fittin' out? It was your mamma +that bought the wagons and made the blankets." + +"We didn't see her," said Bessie. + +"No, but she did them when you were out or asleep; but you see Mrs. +Rush and Miss Annie had to be working all the time on the clothes, lest +they wouldn't be done; and you're round there so much, they had to let +you see." + +"But we never knew," said Maggie. + +The children could scarcely keep still long enough to let nurse bathe +and dress them; but at last it was done, and then the dolls were +dressed, and the rest of the clothes put nicely away in the boxes. As +soon as baby awoke, they were off to their mamma's room, scrambling +up on the bed to show their treasures, and talking as fast as their +tongues could go. + +"I was so very surprised, mamma!" said Maggie. + +"You were not; were you, Bessie?" said mamma, laughing. + +"Why, yes, I was." + +"Didn't you see or hear something last night?" asked mamma. + +Bessie looked at her mother for a minute, and then exclaimed, "Oh, +yes, I do yemember, now! Maggie, last night I woke up and somebody was +laughing, and I thought it was Aunt Annie; but when I opened my eyes, +only mamma was there, and when I asked her where Aunt Annie was, she +said, 'Go to sleep; you shall see Aunt Annie in the morning.' Mamma, +I thought you came to kiss us, as you do every night before you go to +bed. I suppose you put the dolls there that time?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Bradford. + +"That's what I call being _mysteyious_," said Bessie. + +"Do you like people to be mysterious, Bessie?" asked her father, +laughing. + +"About dolls, I do, papa; but about some things, I don't." + +"What things?" + +"When they're going to say what they don't want me to hear, and they +send me out of the yoom. I don't like that way of being mysteyious at +all. It hurts children's feelings very much to be sent out of the yoom." + +"What are these magnificent young ladies to be named?" asked Uncle +John, at the breakfast-table. + +"Mine is to be Bessie Margaret Marion," said Maggie,--"after mamma and +Bessie and Mrs. Rush." + +"Why, all your dolls are named Bessie," said Harry; "there are big +Bessie and little Bessie and middling Bessie." + +"I don't care," said Maggie; "this is going to be Bessie too. She will +have two other names, so it will be very nice. Besides, I am not going +to play with middling Bessie again. The paint is all off her cheeks, +and Franky smashed her nose in, and yesterday I picked out her eyes, to +see what made them open and shut, so she is not very pretty any more. I +am going to let Susie have her." + +"And what is yours to be, Bessie?" + +"Margayet Colonel Hoyace Yush Byadford," said Bessie, trying very hard +to pronounce her r's. + +The boys shouted and even the grown people laughed. + +"That is a regular boy's name,--all except the Margaret," said Fred, +"and the Colonel is no name at all." + +"It is," said Bessie,--"it is my own dear soldier's, and it is going to +be my dolly's. You're bad to laugh at it, Fred." + +"Do not be vexed, my little girl," said her father. "Colonel is not a +name; it is only a title given to a man because he commands a regiment +of soldiers. Now young ladies do not command regiments, and Horace is +a man's name. You may call your doll what you please, but suppose you +were to name her Horatia; would not that sound better?" + +But Bessie held fast to the Horace; it was her soldier's name, and she +was quite determined to give her doll the same. + +After breakfast, Mrs. Bradford called Maggie up stairs for a while. +"Maggie, dear," she said, when she had taken the little girl up into +her lap, "have you remembered this morning that our Father in heaven +has brought you to the beginning of another year of your life?" + +"Oh, yes, mamma," said Maggie; "I have done nothing but think it was +my birthday ever since I woke up. You know I could not forget it when +every one was so kind and gave me such lots and lots of lovely things." + +"But have you remembered to thank God for letting you see another +birthday, and for giving you all these kind friends, and so many other +blessings? And have you asked him to make you wiser and better each +year, as you grow older?" + +"I am afraid I did not think much about it that way," said Maggie, +coloring; "but I _am_ very thankful. I know I have a great many +blessings. I have you and papa and Bessie, and my new doll, and all +the rest of the family. But I want to know one thing, mamma. Isn't it +wrong to pray to God about dolls? Bessie said it wasn't, but I thought +it must be." + +"How to pray about them, dear?" + +"To thank God because he made Colonel Rush think of giving us such +beautiful ones. Bessie said we ought to, but I thought God would not +care to hear about such little things as that. Bessie said we asked +every day for our daily bread; and dolls were a great deal better +blessing than bread, so we ought to thank him. But I thought he was +such a great God, maybe he would be offended if I thanked him for such +a little thing as a doll." + +"We should thank him for every blessing, dear, great and small. Though +we deserve nothing at his hands, all that we have comes from his love +and mercy; and these are so great that even our smallest wants are +not beneath his notice. He knows all our wishes and feelings,--every +thought, whether spoken or not; and if you feel grateful to him +because he put it into the hearts of your kind friends to give you +this pretty present, he knew the thought, and was pleased that you +should feel so. But never fear to thank him for any mercy, however +small. Never fear to go to him in any trouble or happiness. He is +always ready to listen to the simplest prayer from the youngest child. +Shall we thank him now for all the gifts and mercies you have received +to-day, and for the care which he has taken of you during the past +year?" + +"Yes, mamma." + +"And, Maggie, I think you have one especial blessing to be grateful +for." + +"What, mamma?" + +"That you have been able, with God's help, to do so much towards +conquering a very troublesome fault." + +"Oh, yes, mamma! and I do think God helped me to do that, for I asked +him every night and morning, since I meddled with papa's inkstand. I +mean, when I said, 'God bless,' when I came to 'make me a good little +girl,' I used to say quite quick and softly to myself, 'and careful +too.'" + +"That was right, dear," said Mrs. Bradford, tenderly smoothing Maggie's +curls, and kissing her forehead; "you see he did hear that little +prayer, and help you in what you were trying to do." + +Then Mrs. Bradford knelt down with Maggie, and thanked God that he had +spared her child's life, and given her so many blessings, and prayed +that each year, as she grew older, she might be better and wiser, and +live more to his glory and praise. + +"I am not quite careful yet, mamma," said Maggie, when they rose from +their knees. "You know the other day, when nurse told me to bring in +Bessie's best hat, I forgot and left it out on the grass, and the rain +spoiled it; but I mean to try more and more, and maybe, when I am +eight, I will be as careful as Bessie." + + + + +XVII. + +_THE BIRTHDAY PARTY._ + + +Maggie said this was the very best birthday she had ever had. The whole +day seemed one long pleasure. She and Bessie walked over, with their +father and Uncle John, to see Colonel and Mrs. Rush, leaving mamma, +Aunt Helen, and Aunt Annie all helping Mrs. Jones to prepare for the +evening. There were cakes and ice cream and jelly to make, for such +things could not be bought here in the country as they could in town. + +The new dolls went too, seated in the perambulators and snugly tucked +in with the affghans, though it was such a warm day that when they +reached the hotel, Bessie said she was "yoasted." + +"So this is a pleasant birthday; is it, Maggie?" said the colonel. + +"Oh, yes!" said Maggie; "I wish every day was my birthday or Bessie's." + +"Then in sixty days you would be old ladies. How would you like that?" +said Uncle John. + +"Not a bit," answered Maggie; "old ladies don't have half so much fun +as children." + +"So you will be content with one birthday in a year?" + +"Yes, Uncle John." + +"And you liked all your presents, Maggie?" asked the colonel. + +"Yes, sir, except only one." + +"And what was that?" + +"Mrs. Jones gave me a white _Canting_ flannel rabbit, with black silk +for its nose, and red beads for its eyes. Idea of it! just as if I was +a little girl, and I am seven! I told nurse if baby wanted it, she +could have it; and I didn't care if she did put it in her mouth. Nurse +said I was ungrateful; but I am not going to be grateful for such a +thing as that." + +The colonel and Uncle John seemed very much amused when Maggie said +this, but her father looked rather grave, though he said nothing. + +"Colonel Yush," said Bessie, "you didn't send me a yefuse." + +"A what?" + +"A yefuse to our party note." + +"Oh, I understand. Did you want me to refuse?" + +"Oh, no, we didn't _want_ you to; but then we knew you couldn't come, +because you are so lame." + +"Will it do if you get an answer to-night?" said the colonel. + +Bessie said that would do very well. + +When they were going home, Mr. Bradford fell a little behind the rest, +and called Maggie to him. "Maggie, dear," he said, "I do not want to +find fault with my little girl on her birthday, but I do not think you +feel very pleasantly towards Mrs. Jones." + +"No, papa, I do not; I can't bear her; and the make-believe rabbit too! +If you were seven, papa, and some one gave you such a thing, would you +like it?" + +"Perhaps not; but Mrs. Jones is a poor woman, and she gave you the best +she had, thinking to please you." + +"Papa, it makes Mrs. Jones very mad to call her poor. The other day I +asked her why she didn't put pretty white frocks, like our baby's and +Nellie's, on Susie. Bessie said she supposed she was too poor. Mrs. +Jones was as cross as anything, and said she wasn't poor, and Mr. Jones +was as well off as any man this side the country; but she wasn't going +to waste her time doing up white frocks for Susie. She was so mad that +Bessie and I ran away." + +"Then we will not call her poor if she does not like it," said Mr. +Bradford; "but Mrs. Jones is a kind-hearted woman, if she is a little +rough sometimes. She tries very hard to please you. Late last night, I +went into her kitchen to speak to Mr. Jones, and there she sat making +that rabbit, although she had been hard at work all day, trying to +finish her wash, so that she might have the whole of to-day to make +cakes and other nice things for your party. Yet this morning when she +brought it to you, you did not look at all pleased, and scarcely said, +'Thank you.'" + +"Ought I to say I was pleased when I was not, papa?" + +"No, certainly not; but you should have been pleased, because she meant +to be kind, even if you did not like the thing that she brought. It +was not like a lady, it was not like a Christian, to be so ungracious; +it was not doing as you would be done by. Last week you hemmed a +handkerchief for Grandpapa Duncan. Now you know yourself that, although +you took a great deal of pains, the hem was rather crooked and some +of the stitches quite long, yet grandpapa was more pleased with that +one than with the whole dozen which Aunt Helen hemmed, and which were +beautifully done, because he knew that you had done the best you could, +and that it was a great effort for you. It was not the work, but the +wish to do something for him, that pleased him. Now, if grandpa had +frowned, and looked at the handkerchief as if it were scarcely worth +notice, and grumbled something that hardly sounded like 'Thank you,' +how would you have felt?" + +"I'd have cried," said Maggie, "and wished I hadn't done it for him." + +"Suppose he had told other people that he didn't like work done in that +way, and was not going to be grateful for it?" + +Maggie hung her head, and looked ashamed. She saw now how unkindly she +had felt and acted towards Mrs. Jones. + +Mr. Bradford went on: "I think Mrs. Jones was hurt this morning, +Maggie. Now, I am sure you did not mean to vex her; did you?" + +"No, papa, indeed, I did not. What can I do? I don't think I ought to +tell Mrs. Jones that I think the rabbit is pretty when I don't." + +"No, of course you must not. Truth before all things. But you might +play with it a little, and not put it out of sight, as you did +this morning. Perhaps, too, you may find a chance to thank her in a +pleasanter way than you did before." + +"I'll make a chance," said Maggie. + +When they reached the house, Maggie ran up to the nursery. "Nursey," +she said, "where is my rabbit; did baby have it?" + +"No, indeed," said nurse; "I wasn't going to give it to baby, to hurt +Mrs. Jones' feelings,--not while we're here, at least. When we go +to town, then my pet may have it, if you don't want it; and a nice +plaything it will make for her then. It's up there on the mantel-shelf." + +"Please give it to me," said Maggie; "I'm going to cure Mrs. Jones' +feelings." + +Nurse handed it to her, and she ran down stairs with it. She took her +doll out of the little wagon, put the rabbit in its place, and tucked +the affghan all round it. Then she ran into the kitchen, pulling the +wagon after her. + +"Now, come," said Mrs. Jones, the moment she saw her, "I don't want any +children here! I've got my hands full; just be off." + +"Oh, but, Mrs. Jones," said Maggie, a little frightened, "I only want +you to look at my rabbit taking a ride in the wagon. Don't he look +cunning? I think you were very kind to make him for me." + +"Well, do you know?" said Mrs. Jones. "I declare I thought you didn't +care nothing about it,--and me sitting up late last night to make it. +I was a little put out when you seemed to take it so cool like, and I +thought you were stuck up with all the handsome presents you'd been +getting. That wasn't nothing alongside of them, to be sure; but it was +the best I could do." + +"And you were very kind to make it for me, Mrs. Jones. I am very much +obliged to you. No, Susie, you can't have it. Maybe you'd make it +dirty, and I'm going to keep it till I'm thirteen; then I'll let baby +have it, when she's big enough to take care of it." + +"Oh, it will be in the ash-barrel long before that," said Mrs. Jones. +"Here's a cake for you and one for Bessie." + +"No, thank you," said Maggie; "mamma said we musn't eat any cakes or +candies this morning, because we'll want some to-night." + +"That's a good girl to mind so nice," said Mrs. Jones; "and your ma's a +real lady, and she's bringing you up to be ladies too." + +Maggie ran off to the parlor, glad that she had made friends with Mrs. +Jones. She found her mother and Aunt Helen and Aunt Annie all making +mottoes. They had sheets of bright-colored tissue paper, which they +cut into small squares, fringed the ends with sharp scissors, and then +rolled up a sugar-plum in each. They allowed Maggie and Bessie to help, +by handing the sugar-plums, and the little girls thought it a very +pleasant business. And once in a while mamma popped a sugar-plum into +one of the two little mouths, instead of wrapping it in the paper; and +this they thought a capital plan. Then came a grand frolic in the barn +with father and Uncle John and the boys, Tom and Walter being of the +party, until Mrs. Bradford called them in, and said Bessie must rest +a while, or she would be quite tired out before afternoon. So, taking +Bessie on his knee, Grandpapa Duncan read to them out of a new book he +had given Maggie that morning. After the early dinner, the dolls, old +and new, had to be dressed, and then they were dressed themselves, and +ready for their little visitors. + +The piazza and small garden and barn seemed fairly swarming with +children that afternoon. And such happy children too! Every one was +good-natured, ready to please and to be pleased. And, indeed, they +would have been very ungrateful if they had not been; for a great deal +of pains was taken to amuse and make them happy. Even Mamie Stone was +not heard to fret once. + +"I do wish I had an Uncle John!" said Mamie, as she sat down to rest +on the low porch step, with Bessie and one or two more of the smaller +children, and watched Mr. Duncan, as he arranged the others for some +new game, keeping them laughing all the time with his merry jokes,--"I +do wish I had an Uncle John!" + +"You have an Uncle Robert," said Bessie. + +"Pooh! he's no good," said Mamie. "He's not nice and kind and funny, +like your Uncle John. He's as cross as anything, and he wont let +us make a bit of noise when he's in the room. He says children are +pests; and when papa laughed, and asked him if he said that because he +remembered what a pest he was when he was a child, he looked mad, and +said no; children were better behaved when he was a boy." + +"I don't think he's very better behaved to talk so," said Bessie, +gravely. + +"No, he's not," said Mamie. "He's awful. He's not a bit like Mr. +Duncan. And I like your Aunt Annie too. She plays so nice, just as if +she were a little girl herself; and she helps everybody if they don't +know how, or fall down, or anything." + +"Are we not having a real nice time, Bessie?" asked Gracie Howard. + +"Yes," said Bessie; "but I do wish my soldier and Mrs. Yush could come +to our party." + +"What makes you care so much about Colonel Rush?" asked Gracie. "He's +such a big man." + +"He isn't any bigger than my father," said Bessie; "and I love my +father dearly, dearly. We can love people just as much if they are big." + +"Oh, I didn't mean that," said Gracie; "I meant he's so old. You'd have +to love your father, even if you didn't want to, because he is your +father, and he takes care of you. But Colonel Rush isn't anything of +yours." + +"He is," said Bessie; "he is my own soldier, and my great, great +friend; and he loves me too." + +"I know it," said Gracie. "Mamma says it is strange to see a grown man +so fond of a little child who doesn't belong to him." + +"I think it is very good of him to love me so much," said Bessie, "and +I do wish he was here. I want him very much." + +"And so do I," said Maggie, who had come to see why Bessie was not +playing; "but we can't have him, 'cause he can't walk up this bank, +and the carriage can't come here, either. I just wish there wasn't any +bank." + +"Why, what is the matter?" asked Uncle John. "Here is the queen of the +day looking as if her cup of happiness was not quite full. What is it, +Maggie?" + +"We want the colonel," said Maggie. + +"Why, you disconsolate little monkey! Are there not enough grown people +here already, making children of themselves for your amusement, but you +must want the colonel too? If he was here, he could not play with you, +poor fellow!" + +"He could sit still and look at us," said Maggie. + +"And we could look at him," said Bessie. "We are very fond of him, +Uncle John." + +"I know you are," said Uncle John, "and so you should be, for he is +very fond of you, and does enough to please you. But I am very fond of +you too, and I am going to make a fox of myself, to please you. So all +hands must come for a game of fox and chickens before supper." + +Away they all went to join the game. Uncle John was the fox, and Mrs. +Bradford and Aunt Annie the hens, and Aunt Helen and papa were chickens +with the little ones; while grandpa and grandma and Mrs. Jones sat on +the piazza, each with a baby on her knee. The fox was such a nimble +fellow, the mother hens had hard work to keep their broods together, +and had to send them scattering home very often. It was a grand frolic, +and the grown people enjoyed it almost as much as the children. + +Even Toby seemed to forget himself for a moment or two; and once, when +the chickens were all flying over the grass, screaming and laughing, +he sprang up from his post on the porch, where he had been quietly +watching them, and came bounding down among them with a joyous bark, +and seized hold of the fox by the coat tails, just as he pounced on +Harry and Walter, as if he thought they had need of his help. How the +children laughed! But after that, Toby seemed to be quite ashamed of +himself, and walked back to his old seat with the most solemn air +possible, as if he meant to say,-- + +"If you thought it was this respectable dog who was playing with you +just now, you were mistaken. It must have been some foolish little +puppy, who did not know any better." And not even Bessie could coax him +to play any more. + +But at last fox, hen, and chickens were all called to supper, and went +in together as peaceably as possible. The children were all placed +round the room, some of them on the drollest kind of seats, which Mr. +Jones had contrived for the occasion. Almost all of them were so low +that every child could hold its plate on its lap, for there was not +half room enough round the table. + +They were scarcely arranged when a curious sound was heard outside, +like a tapping on the piazza. + +"That sounds just like my soldier's crutches," said Bessie. "But then +it couldn't be, because he never could get up the bank." + +But it seemed that the colonel could get up the bank, for as Bessie +said this, she turned, and there he stood at the door, with Mrs. Rush +at his side, both looking very smiling. + +"Oh, it is, it is!" said Bessie, her whole face full of delight. "Oh, +Maggie, he did come! he did get up! Oh, I'm _perferly_ glad." + +And indeed she seemed so. It was pretty to see her as she stood by the +colonel, looking up at him with her eyes so full of love and pleasure, +and a bright color in her cheeks; while Maggie, almost as much +delighted, ran to the heavy arm-chair in which Grandpapa Duncan usually +sat, and began tugging and shoving at it with all her might. + +"What do you want to do, Maggie?" asked Tom Norris, as he saw her red +in the face, and all out of breath. + +"I want to take it to the door, so that he need not walk another step. +Please help me, Tom," said Maggie, looking at the colonel who stood +leaning on his crutches, and shaking hands with all the friends who +were so glad to see him. + +"Never mind, little woman," said he; "I shall reach the chair with far +less trouble than you can bring it to me, and I can go to it quite +well. I could not have come up this bank of yours, if I had not been +'nice and spry,' as Mrs. Jones says. I told you you should have the +answer to your invitation to-night; did I not?" + +"Oh, yes; but why didn't you tell us you were coming?" + +"Because I did not know myself that I should be able to when the +time came; and I was vain enough to think you and Bessie would be +disappointed if I promised and did not come after all. I knew I should +be disappointed myself; so I thought I would say nothing till I was on +the spot. Would you have liked it better if I had sent you a 'refuse'?" + +"Oh, no, sir!" said Maggie. "How can you talk so?" + +"You gave us the best answer in the world," said Bessie. + +Certainly the colonel had no reason to think that all, both old and +young, were not glad to see him. As for Maggie, she could not rest +until she had done something for him. As soon as she had seen him +seated in the great chair, she rushed off, and was presently heard +coming down stairs with something thump, thumping after her, and in +a moment there she was at the door dragging two pillows, one in each +hand. These she insisted on squeezing behind the colonel's back, and +though he would have been more comfortable without them, he allowed her +to do it, as she had taken so much trouble to bring them, and smiled +and thanked her; so she was quite sure she had made him perfectly easy. +Neither she nor Bessie would eat anything till he had taken or refused +everything that was on the table, and he said he was fairly in the way +to be killed with kindness. + +After supper Fred whispered to his father, and receiving his +permission, proposed "three cheers for Bessie's soldier, Colonel Rush." +The three cheers were given with a hearty good-will, and the room rang +again and again. + +"Three cheers for all our soldiers," said Harry; and these were given. + +Then Walter Stone cried, "Three cheers for our Maggie, the queen of +the day," and again all the boys and girls shouted at the top of their +voices. + +But Maggie did not like this at all. She hung her head, and colored all +over face, neck, and shoulders, then calling out in a vexed, distressed +tone, "I don't care," ran to her mother, and buried her face in her lap. + +"Poor Maggie! That was almost too much, was it not?" said her mother, +as she lifted her up and seated her on her knee. + +"Oh, mamma, it was dreadful!" said Maggie, almost crying, and hiding +her face on her mother's shoulder. "How could they?" + +"Never mind, dear; they only did it out of compliment to you, and they +thought you would be pleased." + +"But I am not, mamma. I would rather have a discompliment." + +Maggie's trouble was forgotten when Uncle John jumped up and began a +droll speech, which made all the children laugh, and in a few moments +she was as merry as ever again. + +"So this has been a happy day?" said the colonel, looking down at +Bessie, who was sitting close beside him, as she had done ever since he +came in. + +"Oh, yes," said Bessie; "it is the best birthday we have ever had." + +"We?" said the colonel. "It is not your birthday, too; is it?" + +"No," said Bessie; "but that's no difference. I like Maggie's birthday +just as much as mine, only I like hers better, 'cause I can give her a +present." + +"Does she not give you a present on your birthday?" + +"Yes; but I like to give her one better than to have her give me one; +and it was such a great part of the happiness 'cause you came to-night." + +"Bless your loving little heart!" said the colonel, looking very much +pleased. + +"You know, even if you did not give me that beautiful doll, it would be +'most the same; for Maggie would let me call hers half mine; but I am +very glad you did give it to me. Oh, I'm _very_ satisfied of this day." + +"Wasn't this a nice day?" Bessie said to her sister, when their little +friends were gone, and they were snug in bed. + +"Yes, lovely," said Maggie, "only except the boys hollering about me. I +never heard of such a thing,--to go and holler about a girl, and make +her feel all red! I think, if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't know what +to do 'cause of my gladness." + + + + +XVIII. + +_THE ADVENTURE._ + + +There was a dreadful storm that week, which lasted several days, and +did a great deal of damage along the coast. The sky was black and angry +with dark, heavy clouds. The great waves of the ocean rolled up on the +beach with a loud, deafening roar, the house rocked with the terrible +wind, and the rain poured in such torrents that Maggie asked her mother +if she did not think "the windows of heaven were opened," and there was +to be another flood. + +"Maggie," said her mother, "when Noah came out of the ark, what was the +first thing he did?" + +Maggie thought a moment, and then said, "Built an altar and made a +sacrifice." + +"Yes; and what did the Lord say to him?" + +"Well done, good and faithful servant," said Maggie, who, provided she +had an answer, was not always particular it was the right one. + +Mrs. Bradford smiled a little. + +"We are not told the Lord said that," she answered, "though he was +doubtless pleased that Noah's first act should have been one of praise +and thanksgiving. Indeed, the Bible tells us as much. But what did he +place in the clouds for Noah to see?" + +"A rainbow," said Maggie. + +"What did he tell Noah it should be?" + +"I forgot that," said Maggie; "he said it should be a sign that the +world should never be drowned again." + +"Yes; the Lord told Noah he would make a covenant with him 'that the +waters should no more become a flood to destroy the earth;' and he made +the rainbow for a sign that his promise should stand sure." + +"I am glad God made the rainbow, 'cause it is so pretty," said Maggie; +"but I think Noah might have believed him without that, when he took +such care of him in the ark." + +"Probably he did; we are not told that Noah did not believe, and it was +of his own great goodness and mercy that the Almighty gave to Noah, and +all who should live after him, this beautiful token of his love and +care. But if my little girl could have believed God's promise then, why +can she not do so now? His word holds good as surely in these days as +in those of Noah." + +"So I do, mamma," said Maggie; "I forgot about the rainbow and God's +promise. I wont be afraid any more, but I do wish it would not rain so +hard, and that the wind would not blow quite so much." + +"We are all in God's hands, Maggie. No harm can come to us unless he +wills it." + +"Franky don't like this great wind either, mamma," said Maggie, "and +he said something so funny about it this morning. It was blowing and +blowing, and the windows shook and rattled so, and Franky began to cry +and said, 'I 'fraid.' Then nurse told him not to be afraid, 'cause God +made the wind blow, and he would take care of him. A little while +after, he was standing on the chair by the window, and it galed harder +than ever, and the wind made a terrible noise, and Franky turned round +to nurse and said, 'How God do blow!' and then the poor little fellow +began to cry again." + +"Yes, and Maggie was very good to him," said Bessie; "she put her new +doll in the wagon, and let him pull it about the nursery, only we +watched him all the time, 'cause he's such a misfit." (Bessie meant +mischief.) "Mamma, will you yead us about Noah?" + +Mrs. Bradford took the Bible and read the chapter in Genesis which +tells about the flood, and the children listened without tiring until +she had finished. + +At last the storm was over,--the wind and rain ceased, and the sky +cleared, to the delight of the children, but they still heard a great +deal of the storm and the damage which had been done. Many vessels had +been wrecked, some with men and women on board, who had been drowned +in the sea. Some miles farther up the shore, a large ship had been cast +upon the rocks, where she was driven by the gale. The guns of distress +she had fired had been heard by the people of Quam the night before the +storm ceased. It was an emigrant ship coming from Europe, and there +were hundreds of poor people on board, many of whom were drowned; and +most of the saved lost everything they had in the world, so there was +much suffering among them. Mr. Howard and Mr. Norris drove over to the +place, to see if anything could be done for them, and came back to try +and raise money among their friends and acquaintances to buy food and +clothing. + +Maggie and Bessie were down on the beach with their father and Colonel +Rush when Mr. Howard joined them, and told them some of the sad scenes +he had just seen. The little girls were very much interested, and the +gentlemen seemed so too. Mr. Bradford and Mr. Duncan gave them money, +and the colonel, too, pulled out his pocket-book, and taking out a +roll of bills, handed Mr. Howard two or three. Mr. Howard was still +talking, and the colonel, who was listening earnestly, and who was +always careless with his money, did not pay much heed to what he was +doing. He put the roll of bank-notes back in his pocket-book, and, as +he thought, put the book in his pocket; but instead of going in, it +dropped upon the sand behind the rock on which he sat, and no one saw +it fall, but a bad boy standing a little way off. + +Now this boy was a thief and a liar. Perhaps no one had ever taught +him better; but however that was, he was quite willing to do anything +wicked for the sake of a little money. He saw the soldier take out the +roll of bank-notes, put them back again, and then drop the pocket-book +on the sand, and he hoped no one would notice it, so that he might pick +it up when they had gone. + +[Illustration: Bessie at Sea Side. P. 252.] + +By and by the colonel said he was tired, and thought he would go home. +Mr. Bradford and the other gentlemen said they would go with him, +Mr. Bradford telling his little girls to come too. + +"In a minute, papa," said Bessie; "my dolly's hat has come off, and I +must put it on." + +"We'll go on then," said her father; "you can run after us." + +The gentlemen walked on, while Bessie began to put on Miss Margaret +Horace Rush Bradford's hat. + +"Oh, Maggie!" she said, "there's Lily Norris going out in the boat with +her father, and mamma said we might ask her to tea. I know she'd yather +come with us; you yun ask her, while I put on my dolly's hat, and then +I'll come too." + +Maggie ran on, leaving Bessie alone. The boy came a little nearer. +Bessie put on her doll's hat, and was going after her sister, when she +dropped her doll's parasol, and as she stooped to pick it up, she saw +the pocket-book. + +"Oh, there's my soldier's porte-monnaie!" she said to herself; "I know +it is; I'll take it to him. My hands are so full, maybe I'll lose it. +I'll put it in my bosom, and then it will be all safe." + +She laid doll, parasol, and the little basket she held in her hand upon +the rock, picked up the pocket-book, and pulling down the neck of her +spencer, slipped it inside. Just at this moment the boy came up to her. + +"Give me that," he said. + +"What?" asked Bessie, drawing back from him. + +"Don't you make believe you don't know,--that pocket-book. It's mine." + +"It isn't," said Bessie; "it's the colonel's." + +"No, 'taint; it's mine. Hand over now, else I'll make you." + +"I sha'n't," said Bessie. "I know it's the colonel's. I've seen it a +great many times, and just now he gave Mr. Howard some money out of it +for the poor people who lost all their things." + +"Are you going to give it to me?" said the boy, coming nearer to her. + +"No," said Bessie, "I am not. I am going to give it to the colonel, +and I shall tell him what a very naughty boy you are. Why, I'm afraid +you're a stealer! Don't you know--" + +Bessie was stopped by the boy taking hold of her, and trying to drag +away the spencer, beneath which he had seen her slip the pocket-book. +Just at this moment Maggie turned her head, to see if Bessie were +coming, and saw her struggling in the grasp of the boy. Down went her +new doll, happily in a soft place in the sand, where it came to no +harm, and forgetting all fear, thinking only of her little sister, she +ran back to her help. + +"Leave my Bessie be! Leave my Bessie be!" she screamed, flying upon the +boy, and fastening with both her hands upon the arm with which he was +tearing away the spencer and feeling for the pocket-book, while he held +Bessie with the other. + +"Let go!" he said, fiercely, between his teeth. But Maggie only held +the tighter, screaming,-- + +"Leave my Bessie be! Oh! papa, papa, do come!" + +Both terrified children were now screaming at the top of their voices, +and they were heard by their father and the other gentlemen, who turned +to see what was the matter. Although they were at a distance, Mr. +Bradford saw his little girls were in great trouble. Back he came, as +fast as he could, Mr. Howard and Uncle John after him, the colonel, +too, as quick as his crutches would carry him. + +"Let go!" cried the boy, as he saw Mr. Bradford, letting go his own +hold on Bessie, and giving Maggie a furious blow across the face. But +fearing he would seize Bessie again, brave little Maggie held fast. + +"Take that, then!" said the boy, giving her another and a harder blow. + +Maggie fell, striking her head against the edge of the rock, and the +boy turned to run before Mr. Bradford reached the spot. But all this +time another pair of eyes had been upon him. Four swift feet were +coming toward him, and ever so many sharp teeth were set for a grip of +him. While the children had been with their father, Toby, Mr. Jones' +great white dog, had been seated on the edge of the bank before the +house, watching the people as he was accustomed to do. + +Now between Toby and Joe Sands, the boy who tried to take the +pocket-book, there was great enmity. Joe never saw Toby without trying +to provoke him to a quarrel by making faces at him, and throwing sticks +and stones; but though the dog would growl and show his teeth, he had +never yet tried to bite him. + +This afternoon, the moment Joe appeared, Toby seemed to suspect +mischief. He straightened himself up, put his head on one side, cocked +up one ear and drooped the other. Toby was not a handsome dog at the +best of times, and it was not becoming to him to hold his ears in this +fashion. He looked very fierce as he sat thus, but Joe did not see him, +or he might have been afraid to meddle with Bessie. + +Toby never told whether he saw the colonel drop the pocket-book, but +from the minute it fell, he looked all ready for a spring, and never +took his eyes from Joe. When the boy spoke to Bessie, he appeared still +more uneasy, rose to his feet, snarled, and gave short, angry barks, +but did not think it was time to interfere till Joe laid his hand upon +the little girl. Then his patience was at an end, and with a furious, +rough bark, he rushed over the bank, down the beach, and just as Joe +turned to run from Mr. Bradford, seized fast hold of his leg. Happily +for Joe, he had on a thick, strong pair of boots; but even through +these Toby's teeth came in a way far from pleasant. Not a step could +he stir, and in an instant Mr. Bradford and the other gentlemen came +up. Mr. Bradford stooped to pick up Maggie, while Mr. Howard collared +Joe. Even then Toby would not let go, but gave Joe a good shake, which +made him cry out with pain. Poor Maggie was quite stunned for a moment +by the blow which Joe had given her, and there was a bad cut on her +head, where it had struck the rock, while one side of her face was much +bruised and scratched. But when, a moment after, she came to herself, +her first thought was still for Bessie, who was crying loudly with +terror and distress for her sister. + +"Oh, my Bessie, my Bessie! leave her be!" she said, as she slowly +opened her eyes. + +"Bessie is safe, my darling," said her father. "She is not hurt at +all. My poor little Maggie!" and sitting down on the rock, with her on +his knee, he tenderly bound up her head with his handkerchief. By this +time, Colonel Rush and two or three more people had come up, and Uncle +John went on to the house, to tell Mrs. Bradford what had happened, so +that she might not be startled when she saw Maggie. + +Mr. Howard kept his hand on Joe's shoulder, but there was not much +need, for Toby still held him fast, and if he made the least move, gave +him a hint to keep still, which Joe thought it best to mind. + +Mr. Bradford carried Maggie to the house, and the rest followed; but +it was a long time before any one could make out what had happened. +Bessie was too much frightened to tell, Maggie too sick, and Joe too +sullen. And Maggie did not know about the pocket-book. All she could +tell was, that she had seen Bessie struggling with the boy, and had run +to help her. At last Bessie was quieted, and then told the story in her +straightforward way, putting her hand in her bosom and pulling out the +pocket-book. + +"Oh, you villain!" said Mrs. Jones, who was holding the basin while +Mrs. Bradford washed the blood from Maggie's face and head. "Oh, you +villain! Aint it enough to go robbin' orchards and melon patches, and +farmers' wagons market-days, but you must be fighting and knocking +down babies like these to get what's not your own? If you don't see +the inside of the county jail for this, my name's not Susan Jones. And +you'd have been there long ago, only for your poor mother, whose heart +ye're breakin' with your bad ways. That's you, Toby, my boy; you know +when you've a rascal fast; but you may let him go now, for there's your +master, and he will take him in hand." + +Mr. Jones was the constable, and Toby knew this quite as well as if he +went on two feet instead of four. When Mr. Jones was sent to arrest any +one, he always took Toby with him, and it was curious to see how the +dog would watch the prisoner, and seem to feel that he had quite as +much share as his master in bringing him to be punished for the wicked +things he had done. As soon as Mr. Jones came in the room, he let go of +Joe, but sat down close to him, ready to take another grip, if he tried +to run away. + +"And what's to be done about your poor mother?" said Mr. Jones, when he +had heard the story. "I shall have to have you up for this. It will go +nigh to kill her." + +Joe made no answer, only looked more sullen and obstinate than ever. + +"Mr. Jones," said Maggie, in a weak little voice, "please take him +away; it frightens me to see him." + +"I'm going to take him right off where he wont trouble you for one +while," said Mr. Jones. "But how is it that you are afraid of him just +standing here, and you weren't afraid of him when he was handling you +and Bessie so rough?" + +"I didn't think about that," said Maggie, "and if I had, I couldn't let +anybody do anything to my Bessie. I thought he was going to kill her. +Oh, dear! oh, dear!" and Maggie began to cry again; she could not have +told why, except that she could not help it. + +"Come along," said Mr. Jones, taking hold of Joe's arm. + +"Mr. Jones," said Bessie, "are you going to take him to the jail?" + +"I am going to take him to the squire, and I guess he'll give him a few +days of it. Serve him right too." + +"But I'm 'fraid it will break his mother's heart," said Bessie; "Mrs. +Jones said it would." + +"He's breakin' his mother's heart fast enough, any way," said Mr. +Jones. "Drinkin' and swearin' and stealin' and idlin' round, when he +ought to be a help to her, poor, sick body! It isn't goin' to do him +nor his mother no harm for him to be shut up for a little while where +he can think over his bad ways. He wants bringin' up somewhere, and +Toby knows it too." + +Toby growled and wagged his tail, as if to say he agreed with Mr. +Jones. The growl was for Joe, the wag for his master. + +"You surely don't think he ought to be let off," said Mrs. Jones, "when +he hurt Maggie that way? Why, she's going to have a black eye, sure as +a gun!" + +Joe walked away with Toby at his heels. Maggie's head was bound up, and +her bruises washed with arnica, and both she and Bessie were petted and +comforted. + +As for the new doll, which Maggie had thrown down in her haste to run +to her little sister's help, it was picked up by one of the gentlemen, +who brought it safe and unbroken to Maggie. To be sure, Miss Bessie +Margaret Marion's dress was rather soiled by the wet sand on which she +had fallen; but as it was of muslin, it could easily be washed, and +Mrs. Jones soon made it quite clean again. + + + + +XIX. + +_SOUL AND INSTINCT._ + + +"Papa," said Maggie, the next morning, as she sat on his knee at +the breakfast-table, leaning her aching little head against his +breast,--"papa, is there anything in the paper about our 'sault and +battery?" + +"About what?" + +"Our 'sault and battery," said Maggie. "The other day, Uncle John was +reading to Aunt Helen how Mr. King was knocked down, and beaten by a +man who didn't like him; and he called it an 'unprovoked 'sault and +battery.' I thought that meant when somebody hit somebody that didn't +do anything to him." + +"So it does," said her father, trying not to smile, "and yours was a +most 'unprovoked assault and battery,' my poor little woman; but there +is nothing in the paper about it." + +"Do you think that there should be?" asked Mrs. Bradford. + +"Oh, no, mamma; I'm very glad there isn't. I thought maybe the +paper-maker would hear about it, and put it into his paper; and I +didn't want people to be reading about Bessie and me. Do you think he +would do it another day, papa?" + +"I think not, dear; you need not be afraid." + +"I don't see what's the reason then," said Harry. "Maggie is a real +heroine, and so is Bessie. Why, there isn't a boy at Quam, however big +he is, that would dare to fight Joe Sands; and to think of our mite of +a Bess standing out against him, and holding fast to the pocket-book, +and Maggie running to the rescue!" + +"Yes, you little speck of nothing ground down to a point," said Uncle +John, catching Bessie up in his arms, "how dared you hold your ground +against such a great rough boy as that?" + +"Why, it was the colonel's pocket-book," said Bessie, "and he was +going to take it, and it wasn't his; so I _had_ to take care of it, you +know. I couldn't let him do such a naughty thing." + +"They're bricks, both of them," said Harry. + +"So they are," said Fred; for both of the boys were very proud of their +little sisters' courage; "and Maggie has the right stuff in her, if she +is shy. She is a little goose where there is nothing to be afraid of, +and a lion where there is." + +"Holloa! what is all this heap of pennies for?" asked the colonel, a +while after, as he came into Mrs. Jones' parlor, and found Maggie and +Bessie, like the famous king, "counting out their money." He had come +up the bank and paid them a visit two or three times since Maggie's +birthday, so that they were not very much surprised to see him. + +"But first tell me how that poor little head and face are, Maggie? Why, +you do look as if you'd been to the wars. Never mind, the bruises will +soon wear away; and as for the cut, your hair will hide that. It is +not every soldier that gets over his scars so easily; and you must not +be ashamed of yours while they last. But you have not told me what you +are going to do with so much money," he added, when he was comfortably +seated in the arm-chair. + +"Oh, it isn't much," said Maggie; "it is only a little, and we wish it +was a whole lot." + +"And what do you and Bessie want with a whole lot of money? I should +think you had about everything little girls could wish for." + +"Yes, we have," said Bessie, "and we don't want it for ourselves." + +"Who for, then?" + +"For those poor shipyecked people. Papa and Uncle John have gone over +to see them; and mamma and Aunt Helen have gone to the village to buy +some flannel and calico to make things for the poor little children +who have lost theirs. Mr. Howard says there's a baby there that hasn't +anything but a ni'-gown, and no mother, 'cause she was drowned. A +sailor man has it, and he's going to take care of it, but he hasn't +any clothes for it. And we wanted to help buy things, but we have such +a very little money." + +"Bessie has such a little, 'cause she spent all hers for my birthday +present," said Maggie. "Mamma gives us six cents a week, but it's such +a little while since my birthday, Bessie hasn't saved much. I have more +than she has, but not a great deal." + +"And she wanted mamma to let her hem a pock'-han'kerchief and earn some +money," said Bessie, "but she can't, for the doctor says she musn't use +her eye while it's so black." + +"Well," said the colonel, "I think you two have fairly earned the right +to dispose of at least half the money that was in that unfortunate +pocket-book. You shall say what shall be done with it." + +Maggie looked as if she did not know what to say. + +"If you mean, sir," said Bessie, "that you're going to give us half +that money, papa and mamma would not like it. They don't allow us to +yeceive money from people who are not yelations to us." + +"And they are quite right," said the colonel. "I should not like you to +do it, if you were my little girls. But I do not mean that I will give +_you_ the money, only that I will give it away for any purpose you may +choose. Your father and mother can have no objection to that. There +were fifty dollars in the pocket-book. Half of that is twenty-five. +Now, shall I give it all to the shipwrecked people, or shall I give +part to something else?" + +"Will you please to 'scuse me if I whisper to Maggie?" said Bessie. + +"Certainly," said the colonel. + +They whispered together for a minute or two, and then Bessie said, "If +you didn't mind it, sir, we would like to give half to Mrs. Sands; +she's very poor, and sick too; and she's in such a trouble 'cause Joe's +so bad. She has no one to work for her or do anything. Mamma sent Jane +to see her, and she told us about her; and we're so very sorry for her." + +"Well, you are two forgiving little souls," said the colonel. "Do you +want me to give money to the mother of the boy who treated you so?" + +"_She_ didn't treat us so," said Maggie, "and we would like her to be +helped 'cause she's so very poor. She cried about the pocket-book, +and she is a good woman. She couldn't help it if Joe was so bad. We +can't help being a little speck glad that Joe is shut up, he's such +a dangerous boy; and we'd be afraid of him now; but his mother feels +very bad about it. So if you want to do what we like with the money, +sir, please give half to the baby in the shipwreck, and half to Joe's +mother." + +"Just as you please," said the colonel; "twelve and a half to the baby, +twelve and a half to Mrs. Sands. I shall give the baby's money to Mrs. +Rush, and ask her to buy what it needs. Will not that be the best way?" + +The children said yes, and were much pleased at the thought that Mrs. +Sands and the little orphan baby were to be made comfortable with part +of the money which they had saved. + +"Now, suppose we go out on the piazza," said the colonel; "Mrs. Rush is +there talking to Grandpa Duncan, and I told them I would come out again +when I had seen you." + +"But there's no arm-chair out there," said Maggie. + +"Never mind; the settee will do quite as well for a while." + +But when Mrs. Jones happened to pass by, and saw the colonel sitting +on the piazza, nothing would do but she must bring out the arm-chair, +and make a great fuss to settle him comfortably. Maggie could not help +confessing she was very kind, even if she did not always take the most +pleasant way of showing it. + +"What are you thinking of, Bessie?" asked the colonel, after he had +talked to Mr. Duncan for some time. + +Bessie was sitting on the piazza step, looking at Toby with a very +grave face, as he lay beside her with his head in her lap. + +"I am so sorry for Toby," she answered. + +"Why, I think he is as well off as a dog can be. He looks very +comfortable there with his head in your lap." + +"But he hasn't any soul to be saved," said the child. + +"He does not know that," said the colonel, carelessly; "it does not +trouble him." + +"But," said Bessie, "if he had a soul, and knew Jesus died to save it, +he would be a great deal happier. It makes us feel so happy to think +about that. Isn't that the yeason people are so much better and happier +than dogs, grandpa?" + +"That's the reason they should be happier and better, dear." + +"There are some people who know they have souls to be saved, who don't +think about it, and don't care if Jesus did come to die for them; are +there not, grandpa?" said Maggie. + +"Yes, Maggie, there are very many such people." + +"Then they can't be happy," said Bessie,--"not as happy as Toby, for he +don't know." + +"I don't believe Joe thinks much about his soul," said Maggie. + +"I am afraid not," answered Mr. Duncan. + +"Grandpa," said Bessie, "if people know about their souls, and don't +care, I don't think they are much better than Toby." + +"But, grandpa," said Maggie, "Toby behaves just as if he knew some +things are naughty, and other things right. How can he tell if he +has no soul? How did he know it was naughty for Joe to steal the +pocket-book; and what is the reason he knows Susie must not go near the +fire nor the cellar stairs?" + +"It is instinct which teaches him that," said grandpa. + +"What is that?" + +"We cannot tell exactly. It is something which God has given to animals +to teach them what is best for themselves and their young. It is not +reason, for they have no soul nor mind as men, women, and children +have; but by it some animals, such as dogs and horses, often seem to +know what is right and wrong. It is instinct which teaches the bird to +build her nest. I am an old man, and I suppose you think I know a great +deal, but if I wanted to build a house for my children, I would not +know how to do it unless I were shown. But little birdie, untaught by +any one,--led only by the instinct which God has given her,--makes her +nest soft and comfortable for her young. It is instinct which teaches +Toby to know a man or a boy who is to be trusted from one who is not; +which makes him keep Susie from creeping into danger when he is told to +take care of her." + +"And, grandpa," said Bessie, "Toby had an instinct about our baby, too. +The other day, when nurse left her asleep in the cradle, and went down +stairs for a few minutes, she woke up and fretted. Toby heard her, and +went down stairs, and pulled nurse's dress, and made her come up after +him to baby." + +"Yes, that was his instinct," said Mr. Duncan. "He knew that baby +wanted to be taken up, and that nurse should come to her." + +"He did such a funny thing the other day," said Maggie, "when Fred +played him a trick. You know he brings Mr. Jones' old slippers every +evening, and puts them by the kitchen door, so Mr. Jones can have them +all ready when he comes from his work. You tell it, Bessie, it hurts my +face to speak so much." + +"Well," said Bessie, who was always ready to talk, "Fred took the +slippers, and hid them in his trunk, 'cause he wanted to see what Toby +would do. Toby looked and looked all over, but the poor fellow could +not find them. So at last he brought an old pair of yubber over-shoes, +and put them by the kitchen door. Then he went away and lay down behind +the door, and he looked so 'shamed, and so uncomf'able, Maggie and I +felt yeal sorry for him, and we wanted to show him where the slippers +were, but we didn't know ourselves, and Fred wouldn't tell us. Then +Fred called him ever so many times, but he was very cross, and growled, +and would not go at all till Fred said, 'Come, old dog, come, get the +slippers.' Then he came out and yan after Fred, and we all yan, and it +was so funny to see him. He was so glad, and he pulled out the slippers +and put them in their place, and then he took the old yubbers and put +them in the closet, and lay down with his paws on the slippers, as if +he thought somebody would take them away again. And now Mrs. Jones says +that every morning he hides them in a place of his own, where no one +can find them but his own self. I think that is very smart; don't you, +grandpa?" + +"Very smart," said Mr. Duncan; "Toby is a wise dog." + +"But, grandpa, don't Toby have conscience, too, when he knows what's +good and what's naughty? Mamma says it's conscience that tells us when +we're good, and when we're naughty." + +"No, dear; Toby has no conscience. If he knows the difference between +right and wrong in some things, it is partly instinct, partly because +he has been taught. Conscience is that which makes us afraid of +displeasing God, and breaking his holy laws, but Toby feels nothing of +this. He is only afraid of displeasing his master; he has neither love +nor fear of One greater than that master, for he does not know there is +such a wise and holy being. If Toby should steal, or do anything wrong, +God would not call him to account for it, because he has given to the +dog no soul, no conscience, no feeling of duty to his Maker." + +"Grandpa," said Bessie, "don't you mean that if Toby is naughty, God +will not punish him when he dies, 'cause he didn't know about him?" + +"Yes, dear; for Toby there is neither reward nor punishment in another +world. For him, there is no life to come." + +"Grandpa," said Maggie, "where will Toby's instinct go when he dies?" + +"It will die with the dog. It is mortal; that is, it must die; but +our souls are immortal; they will go on living for ever and ever, +either loving and praising God through all eternity, or sinking down +to endless woe and suffering. Toby is a good, wise, faithful dog, +and knows a great deal, but the weakest, the most ignorant boy or +girl--that poor idiot you saw the other day--is far better, of far more +value in the sight of God, for he has a soul; and to save that precious +soul, our Lord left his heavenly home, and died upon the cross. Think +what a soul is worth when it needed that such a price be paid for its +salvation!" + +"I can't help being sorry for Toby, 'cause he has no soul," said +Bessie; "but I'm a great deal sorrier for those people that don't think +about their souls, and go to Jesus to be saved. How can they help +it, when they know he wants them to come? Grandpa, don't they feel +ungrateful all the time?" + +"I am afraid not, Bessie. If they do not feel their need of a Saviour, +they do not feel their ingratitude." + +Bessie was silent for a minute or two, and sat gazing for a while far +away over the water, with the thoughtful look she so often had in her +eyes, and then she said slowly, as if speaking to herself,-- + +"I wonder if they think about for ever and ever and ever." + +No one answered her. Not a word had the colonel said since Bessie had +said that she thought those who did not care for their souls were no +better than Toby; but he sat with his eyes sometimes on her, sometimes +on the dog, and his face, which was turned from his wife and Mr. +Duncan, had a vexed, troubled look. Mrs. Rush had often seen that look +during the last few days, and now she guessed it was there, even though +she did not see it. But, presently, when the carriage was seen coming +back with Mrs. Bradford and Mrs. Duncan, he drove it away, and was soon +laughing and talking as usual. + + + + +XX. + +_NURSE TAKEN BY SURPRISE._ + + +Nurse and Jane had taken all the children for a long walk. About a +mile up the shore lived the woman who took in Mrs. Bradford's washing. +Mrs. Bradford wished to send her a message, and told Jane to go with +it. There were two ways by which this house could be reached: one by +the shore, the other by a road which ran farther back, part of the +way through the woods. About a quarter of a mile this side of the +washer-woman's, it turned off nearer to the shore; and here it was +crossed by the brook, which also crossed the road to the station. It +was wider here, and deeper, and ran faster towards the sea. Over it was +built a rough bridge. Two beams were laid from bank to bank; on these +were placed large round logs, a foot or two apart, and above these +were the planks, with a miserable broken rail. It was a pretty place +though, and the walk to it was shady and pleasant,--pleasanter than the +beach on a warm day. + +Nurse said she would walk to the bridge with the children, and rest +there, while Jane went the rest of the way. When Harry and Fred heard +this, they said they would go too, for the brook was a capital place +to fish for minnows. So they all set off, the boys carrying their +fishing-rods and tin pails. + +But when they reached the bridge, they found there would be no fishing. +The rains of the great storm a few days ago had swollen the brook very +much, and there had been several heavy showers since, which had kept it +full, so it was now quite a little river, with a muddy current running +swiftly down to the sea. The tiny fish were all hidden away in some +snug hole, and the boys knew it was of no use to put out their lines. + +"Oh, bother!" said Harry. "I thought the water would be lower by this +time. Never mind, we'll have some fun yet, Fred. Let's go in and have +a wade!" + +"I don't believe father would let us," said Fred. "He said we must not +the day before yesterday, and the water is as high now as it was then." + +"Let's go back, then," said Harry. "I don't want to stay here doing +nothing." + +"No," said Fred. "Let's go on with Jane to the washer-woman's. She has +a pair of guinea-fowls, with a whole brood of young ones. Bessie and I +saw them the other day, when Mr. Jones took us up there in his wagon. +We'll go and see them again." + +Maggie and Bessie asked if they might go too, but nurse said it was +too far. Bessie did not care much, as she had seen the birds once, but +Maggie was very much disappointed, for she had heard so much of the +guinea-fowls, that she was very anxious to have a look at them. So Jane +said, if nurse would let her go, she would carry her part of the way. +So at last nurse said she might. Then Franky said he wanted to go too, +but he was pacified by having a stick with a line on the end of it +given to him, with which he thought he was fishing. + +A tree which had been blown down by the gale lay near the bridge, and +on this nurse sat down with baby on her knee, and Bessie and Franky +beside her. Franky sat on the end of the log, toward the water, where +he was quite safe, if he sat still, and nurse meant to keep a close eye +on him. But something happened which made her forget him for a moment +or two. + +"And I'll tell you Cinderella," said nurse to Bessie, as the others +went off. + +"I'd yather hear about when you were a little girl on your father's +farm," said Bessie. + +Nurse liked to talk of this, so she began to tell Bessie of the time +when she was young, and lived at home in far-off England. Bessie had +heard it all very often, but she liked it none the less for that. +Franky sat still, now and then pulling up his line, and saying, "Not +one fis!" and then throwing it out again. + +Suddenly the sound of wheels was heard, and looking round, they saw +Miss Adams' pony carriage, with the lady driving, and the little groom +behind. + +Several times since the day when Miss Adams had teased Bessie, and +Bessie had called her a kitchen lady, she had shown a wish to speak to +the little girl; but she could never persuade her to come near her. +Once or twice, as Bessie was passing through the hall of the hotel, +Miss Adams had opened her door and called to her in a coaxing voice; +but Bessie always ran off as fast as possible, without waiting to +answer. As Miss Adams passed, she nodded, drove on a little way, and +then turned back. She pulled in her horses close to nurse and Bessie. +Baby crowed and shook her little hands at the carriage. It was a pretty +affair, the low basket, softly cushioned, the black ponies with their +bright, glittering harness, and the jaunty groom in his neat livery; +but Bessie had no wish to get in it when Miss Adams said, "Come, +Bessie, jump in and take a ride." + +"No, thank you, ma'am," said Bessie, drawing closer to nurse. + +"Yes, come," said Miss Adams, coaxingly. "I'll give you a nice ride, +and bring you back quite safe to your nurse, or take you home, as you +like." + +"I'd yather not," said Bessie, taking hold of nurse's dress, as if she +feared Miss Adams might take her off by force. + +"You don't know how pleasant it is," said Miss Adams,--"come." + +"I don't want to yide," said Bessie. + +All this time nurse had been looking very grim. She was quite an old +woman, and had lived in the family a great many years, for she had +taken care of Mrs. Bradford herself when she was a little girl. She +loved her and her children dearly, and would have done anything in +the world for them, and if any one brought harm or trouble to her +nurslings, she ruffled up her feathers like an old hen, and thought +herself at liberty to do or say anything she pleased. + +"And she wouldn't be let, if she did want to," she said sharply to Miss +Adams. + +The young lady looked at the old woman with a sparkle in her eye. + +"I'll take the baby, too, if you like," she said, mischievously; "I can +drive quite well with her on my lap, and Bessie can sit beside me." + +"My baby!" said nurse, who seemed to think the baby her own special +property,--"my baby! Do you think I'd risk her neck in a gimcrack like +that? There isn't one of them I'd trust a hand's breadth with ye, not +if ye was to go down on your bended knees." + +"I'm not likely to do that," said Miss Adams, turning round and driving +off once more, "Well, good-by, Bessie, since you wont come." + +She had gone but a short distance, when she drew in the ponies again, +jumped out, tossed the reins to the groom, and ran back to the bridge. +"Bessie," she said, "I want to speak to you; will you come over on the +other side of the road?" + +Bessie looked as shy as Maggie might have done. "No, ma'am," she +answered. + +"But I have something very particular to say to you, and I shall not +tease or trouble you at all. Come, dear, that is a good child. If you +do not, I shall think you are angry with me still." + +"No, I'm not," said Bessie. "Well, I'll go." + +"Not with my leave," said nurse. "If you have anything to say, just say +it here, miss. You can't have anything to tell this child her old nurse +can't hear." + +"Yes, I have," said Miss Adams. "Come, Bessie. I shall not pull your +hair. I want to speak to you very much. Don't you wish to do as you +would be done by?" + +"I think I'd better go; bett'n't I?" said Bessie. "I don't want her to +think I'm angry yet." + +"Sit ye still," said nurse, without looking at Miss Adams. "I sha'n't +let ye go to have I know not what notions put into your head." + +Miss Adams looked vexed, and bit her lip, then she laughed. "Now, don't +be cross, nurse. I am not going to say anything to Bessie which you or +her mother would not approve." + +"Maybe," said nurse, dryly. + +"And if Mrs. Bradford were here, I am sure she would let Bessie come." + +"Maybe," said nurse again, beginning to trot baby rather harder than +she liked. + +Miss Adams stood tapping the toe of her gaiter with her riding whip. +"I promise you," she said, "that I will let her come back to you in +a moment or two, and that I will not do the least thing which could +trouble or tease her." + +"Promises and fair words cost nothing," said nurse. + +"How dare you say that to me?" she said, losing her temper at last. +"Whatever else I may have done, I have never yet broken my word! +Bessie,"--she said this in a softer tone,--"don't think that of me, +dear. I would not say what was not true, or break a promise, for the +world." Then to nurse again: "You're an obstinate old woman, and--Look +at that child!" + +These last words were said in a startled tone and with a frightened +look. + +Nurse turned her head, started up, and then stood still with fear and +amazement. Finding himself unnoticed, Master Franky had concluded +that he had sat quiet long enough, and slipping off his stone, he had +scrambled up the bank and walked upon the bridge. About the centre of +this he found a broken place in the railing through which he put the +stick and line with which he was playing to fish. Putting his head +through after it, he saw that it did not touch the water and that just +in front of him was the projecting end of one of the logs. Here, he +thought, he could fish better, and slipping through, he was now where +Miss Adams told nurse to look at him, stooping over, with one fat hand +grasping the railing and with the other trying to make his line touch +the water. The bridge was four or five feet above the stream, and +although a fall from it might not have been very dangerous for a grown +person, a little child like Franky might easily have been swept away by +the current, which was deepest and swiftest where he was standing. + +"Don't speak," said Miss Adams, hastily, and darting round to the other +side of the bridge, she walked directly into the water, and stooping +down, passed under the bridge and came out under the spot where Franky +stood. As she had expected, the moment he saw her, he started and fell, +but Miss Adams was ready for him. She caught him in her arms, waded +through the water, and placed him safe and dry on the grass. + +"Oh, you naughty boy!" said nurse, the moment she had done so, "what am +I to do with you now?" + +"Nosin' at all; Franky dood boy. Didn't fall in water." + +"And whose fault is that I should like to know," said Miss Adams, +laughing and shaking her dripping skirts, "you little monkey? I do not +know but I should have done better to let you fall into the water and +be well frightened before I pulled you out." + +"Franky not frightened; Franky brave soldier," said the child. + +"You're a mischievous monkey, sir," said the young lady. + +"That he is," said nurse, speaking in a very different way from that in +which she had spoken before. "And where would he have been now but for +you and the kind Providence which brought you here, miss? What would I +have done, with the baby in my arms and he standing there? I'd never +have thought of catching him that way. It was right cute of you, miss." + +"I saw it was the only way," said Miss Adams. "I knew he would be off +that slippery log if he was startled." + +"I thank you again and again, miss," said the nurse, "and so will his +mother; there's your beautiful dress all spoiled." + +"Oh! that's nothing," said Miss Adams, giving her dress another shake; +"it was good fun. But now, when I have saved one of your chickens from +a ducking, you cannot think I would hurt the other if you let me have +her for a moment." + +"Surely I will," said nurse; "but you are not going to stand and talk +in such a pickle as that? You'll catch your death of cold." + +"No fear," said Miss Adams, "I am tough. Come now, Bessie." She held +out her hand to the little girl, and now that she had saved her +brother, she went with her willingly. She was not afraid of her any +more, though she wondered very much what the lady could have to say to +her which nurse might not hear. + +"You'll excuse me for speaking as I did before, miss, but I'm an old +woman, and cross sometimes, and then you see--" Nurse hesitated. + +"Yes, I see. I know I deserved it all," said Miss Adams, and then she +led Bessie to the other side of the road. "Suppose I lift you up here, +Bessie; I can talk to you better." She lifted her up and seated her on +the stone wall which ran along the road. + +"Now," she said, leaning her arms upon the wall, "I want to ask you +something." + +"I know what you want to ask me," said Bessie, coloring. + +"What is it, then?" + +"You want me to say I'm sorry 'cause I said that to you the other day, +and I am sorry. Mamma said it was saucy. But I didn't mean to be saucy. +I didn't know how to help it, you asked me so much." + +"You need not be sorry, Bessie. I deserved it, and it was not that I +was going to speak about. I wanted to ask you to forgive me for being +so unkind to you. Will you?" + +"Oh, yes, ma'am! I did forgave you that day, and mamma told me +something which made me very sorry for you." + +"What was it? Would she like you to repeat it?" + +"I guess she wont care. She said your father and mother died when you +were a little baby, and you had a great deal of money, more than was +good for you, and you had no one to tell you how to take care of it; so +if you did things you ought not to, we ought to be sorry for you, and +not talk much about them." + +Miss Adams stood silent a moment, and then she said, slowly,-- + +"Yes, if my mother had lived, Bessie, I might have been different. I +suppose I do many things I should not do if I had a mother to care +about it; but there is no one to care, and I don't know why I should +myself. I may as well take my fun." + +"Miss Adams," said Bessie, "hasn't your mother gone to heaven?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," said the young lady, looking a little +startled,--"yes, I am sure of it. They say she was a good woman." + +"Then don't she care up there?" + +"I don't know. They say heaven is a happy place. I should not think my +mother could be very happy even there, if she cared about me and saw me +now." + +"Do you mean she wouldn't like to see you do those things you say you +ought not to do?" + +"Yes." + +"Then why don't you do things that will make her happy? I would try to, +if my mother went to heaven." + +"What would you do?" + +"I don't know," said Bessie. + +"I suppose you would not pull little girls' hair, or tease them, or +behave like a kitchen lady." + +"Please don't speak of that any more," said Bessie, coloring. + +"And your mother thinks I have too much money; does she? Well, I do not +know but I have, if having more than I know what to do with is having +too much." + +"Why don't you give some away?" Bessie asked. + +"I do, and then am scolded for it. I drove down the other day to take +some to those shipwrecked people, and the next day Mr. Howard came to +me with his long face and told me I had done more harm than good; for +some of them had been drinking with the money I gave them, and had a +fight and no end of trouble. That is always the way. I am tired of +myself, of my money, and everything else." + +Bessie did not know what to make of this odd young lady, who was +talking in such a strange way to her, but she could not help feeling +sorry for her as she stood leaning on the wall with a tired, +disappointed look on her face, and said these words in a troubled voice. + +"Miss Adams," she said, "why don't you ask our Father in heaven to give +you some one to take care of you and your money, and to make you--" +Bessie stopped short. + +"Well," said Miss Adams, smiling, "to make me what?" + +"I am afraid you would not like me to say it," said Bessie, fidgeting +on her hard seat. "I think I had better go to nurse." + +"You shall go, but I would like to hear what you were going to say. To +make me what?" + +"To make you behave yourself," said Bessie, gravely, not quite sure she +was doing right to say it. + +But Miss Adams laughed outright, then looked grave again. + +"There are plenty of people would like to take care of my money, +Bessie, and there are some people who try, or think they try, to make +me behave myself; but not because they care for me, only because they +are shocked by the things I do. So I try to shock them more than ever." + +Bessie was sure this was not right, but she did not like to tell Miss +Adams so. + +"But I am sorry I shocked you, Bessie, and made you think me no lady. +Now tell me that you forgive me, and shake hands with me. I am going +away to-morrow, and may never see you again." + +Bessie put her little hand in Miss Adams', and lifted up her face to +her. + +"I'll kiss you now," she said, "and I'm sorry I wouldn't that day." + +The young lady looked pleased, and stooping, she kissed her two or +three times, then took her hand to lead her back to nurse. Nurse was +just rising from her seat and looking anxiously up at the sky. + +"There's a cloud coming over the sun," she said; "I'm afraid it is +going to rain." + +"I expect it is," said Miss Adams; "I saw there was a shower coming as +I drove down the hill, but I did not think it would be here for some +time yet." + +Just then the boys and Jane came running up to them, Jane carrying +Maggie in her arms. + +"Oh, nursey!" called Maggie, "it's going to gust. We thought you would +be gone home. Why, there's Miss Adams!"--and Maggie stopped. Not only +she, but all the rest of the party were very much surprised to see +Miss Adams standing there, and seeming so friendly with Bessie and +nurse. But there was no time to say anything. + +There was indeed a gust coming. The edge of a black cloud was just +showing itself over the woods which had hidden it till now from nurse. + +"Make haste!" cried Harry; "I never saw a cloud come up so fast." + +"Quick, nurse!" said Miss Adams; "jump into the pony carriage with the +little ones, and we will be home in less than no time. Quick, now!" + +Nurse made no objections now to the "gimcrack." She thought of nothing +but how to get her babies home before the storm should overtake them. +She bundled into the carriage with baby, while Miss Adams, laughing as +if she enjoyed the fun, packed in Maggie, Bessie, and Franky beside +her. "Hurry up, now, Tip!" she said to the groom, and giving the ponies +a crack with her whip, away they dashed down the road. + +"Now, boys, try if we can outrun the clouds. See who'll be first at +the bend in the road. One, two, three, and away!" and off she went, +with Fred and Harry after her, while Jane stood still for a moment in +amazement at the pranks of this strange young lady, and then followed +as fast as her feet could carry her. + +Meanwhile, on went the carriage with its precious load, nurse, as soon +as they were fairly started, wishing they were all out again, and every +minute begging Tip to drive carefully, and not upset them, to which +he did not pay the least attention. But they reached home without +accident, and found papa and Uncle John setting out to meet them. + +It was growing very dark now. The black cloud had covered nearly the +whole sky, and a white line was moving swiftly along the water, showing +that a furious wind was sweeping over the waves. In another minute they +were in the house, and right glad was the anxious mother to see her +little ones. + +"But where are Harry and Fred?" she said; "and how came you home in +that?" looking at the carriage. + +"Miss Adams sent us," said Maggie, "and the boys are coming with her." + +"And she didn't let him fall in, mamma," said Bessie, "and she is all +wet. But she only laughed. She's been talking to me, and I was sorry +for her, and she's sorry 'cause she pulled my hair. I kissed her, so we +are friends now." + +"Miss Adams!" said Mrs. Bradford, in great surprise. + +"Yes, ma'am, Miss Adams," said nurse, giving baby to her mother, "and +surely I think she's turned over a new leaf. She's been talking to +Bessie as tame as a lamb, and making friends with her, and that after +me giving her a piece of my mind. And she saved that boy there (oh, you +naughty fellow!) from drowning; for what could I have done?" + +"Saved my boy from drowning!" said Mrs. Bradford, turning pale. + +Then nurse told how Miss Adams' presence of mind had saved Franky from +a fall, and probably from being carried away and drowned. Just as she +finished her story, the young lady and the boys came up. + +Mr. and Mrs. Bradford went out on the piazza, to meet Miss Adams, but +she did not mean to come in, nor could she be persuaded to do so, +though the large drops of rain were beginning to plash heavily down; +nor would she listen to any thanks from Mrs. Bradford. + +"But you are heated with your run," said Mrs. Bradford, "come in and +have some dry clothes. You will be drenched in this pouring rain, and +will take cold." + +"No fear," said Miss Adams, laughing. "The second wetting will do me no +harm; nothing ever hurts me. Good-by. Good-by, dear little Bessie." She +stooped to kiss her, and running down the bank, snatched the reins from +the groom, jumped into the carriage, and kissing her hand, drove away +through all the rain. + +"Strange, wild girl," said Mrs. Bradford, with a sigh, as she turned +into the house. + +"But there must be some good in her, mamma, when she gave up her +carriage to the children, and walked or rather ran all the way here," +said Harry; "and she didn't seem to think she'd done anything at all. +How she did scud though! I don't like to see a woman act the way she +does, and I can't quite forgive her about Carlo and Bessie; but I do +think there's some good in her." + +"Ah, Harry," said his mother. "There is some good in every one, if we +only knew how to find it." + + + + +XXI. + +_THE COLONEL IN TROUBLE._ + + +"Bessie," said Harry, as the children were at their supper, and he saw +his little sister sitting with her spoon in her hand and her eyes fixed +on the table as if she had forgotten the bread and butter and berries +before her,--"Bessie, what are you thinking of." + +"Of Miss Adams," said the little girl. + +"Nurse said she was talking to you ever so long," said Fred; "what was +she saying?" + +"I don't think she meant me to talk about it," said Bessie; "she didn't +want nurse to hear, and so I shall only tell mamma and Maggie. You +know I must tell mamma everything, and I couldn't help telling my own +Maggie." + +"She is a queer dick," said Fred, "pulling your hair, and tormenting +you out of your life one time, and telling you secrets another. The +idea of a grown woman telling secrets to a little snip like you!" + +"No snip about it!" said Maggie; "and if I was everybody, I'd tell +Bessie every one of my secrets." + +"That's right, Maggie. You always stand up for Bessie and fight her +battles; don't you?" + +"But, Bessie," said Harry, "did Miss Adams tell you you mustn't repeat +what she said?" + +"No," said Bessie. + +"Then there's no harm in telling." + +"Oh, Harry!" said Fred. "If Bessie knows Miss Adams don't want her to +talk about it, she ought not to tell any more than if she had promised; +ought she, father?" + +"Certainly not," said Mr. Bradford; "it would be unkind as well as +dishonorable." + +"Yes," said Maggie; "it is not to do to others as I would that they +should do to me." + +"Exactly, little woman," said her father, "and remember, dear +children, that is a very safe rule to be guided by, when we do not feel +sure whether a thing is fair or not." + +"Bessie," said Fred, "tell us what ails the colonel. I suppose you +know, for all the grown-uppers seem to be telling you their secrets." + +"Why, that's not a secret! His leg is cut off." + +"Don't think I don't know that. I mean, what makes him so grumpy? He +isn't like the same fellow he was when he first came down here." + +"Fred," said Bessie, giving him a reproving look, "you're not polite at +all to talk that way about my soldier. He's not a fellow, only boys are +fellows, and he's a big gentleman. And he's not that other thing you +called him,--I sha'n't say it, because it is a very ugly word." + +"And it's saucy to say it about the colonel," said Maggie. + +"I don't care," said Fred. "It's true; isn't it, Hal? He used to be +the best company in the world,--always ready to tell us boys stories +by the hour, and full of his fun and jokes. But for the last few days +he has been as solemn as an owl, with no fun to be had out of him, and +if one can get him to talk, it always seems as if he were thinking of +something else. He's as cross as a bear too. Now don't fire up, Bess; +it's so. Starr, his man, says he was never half so impatient or hard to +please all the time he was sick as he has been for the last ten days." + +"Fred," said Mrs. Bradford, "you should not talk to a servant of his +master's faults." + +"He didn't, mother," said Harry,--"at least, not in a way you would +think wrong. The colonel was dreadfully dull and out of sorts the +other day, though he declared that nothing ailed him, and seemed quite +provoked that we should ask, though any one could see with half an eye +that something was the matter. Starr was hanging round, bringing him +this and that, books and newspapers, coaxing him to have something +to eat or drink. At last he asked him if there was _nothing_ he could +do for him, and the colonel thundered at him and said, 'Yes, leave me +alone.' Then he got himself up on his crutches and went off, and would +not let Starr help him. The man looked as if he had lost every friend +he had in the world. So Fred told him he didn't believe the colonel +meant anything. Starr said he was sure he did not, for he was the best +master that ever lived. But he was troubled about it, for he was sure +that something was wrong with him. Fred said perhaps his wounds pained +him worse; but Starr said no, the wounds were doing nicely, and the +colonel was not a man to make a fuss about them if they did pain him, +for all the time he was suffering so dreadfully that no one thought he +could live, he never heard a complaint or a groan from him. And it was +then he said the colonel was far harder to please, and more impatient +than when he was so ill." + +"Maybe he wants to get back to his regiment," said Fred. + +"No, it is not that,--at least, Mrs. Rush says it is not; for this +morning, when I was standing in the hall, the doctor came out of the +room with Mrs. Rush, and he said her husband had something on his mind, +and asked if he were fretting to be with his regiment. And she said, +'Oh, no, the colonel never frets himself about that which cannot be.'" + +"Didn't she tell him what it was?" asked Fred. + +"No, but I guess she, too, thinks there's something wrong with him, +for the doctor told her she must not let anything worry him, and she +did not say a word. And when he went, and she turned to go back to her +room, her face was so very sad." + +"She's just the sweetest little woman that ever was made," said Fred, +who was a great admirer of Mrs. Rush, "and I don't know what he can +have to make him fret. I should think he had everything a man could +want." + +"Except the one great thing," said Grandpapa Duncan, in a low voice to +himself. + +Mr. Bradford, who had been listening to what his children were saying, +but had not spoken, now walked out on the piazza, where he stood +watching the clearing away of the storm. In a moment or two Bessie +followed him, and silently held out her arms to him to be taken up. + +"Papa," she said, as he lifted her, "do you think my soldier has a +trouble in his mind?" + +"I think he has." + +"Wont you help him, papa?" said Bessie, who, like most little children, +thought her father able to help and comfort every one. + +"I could only show him where he could find help, my darling, and I do +not think he cares to have me tell him." + +"Then is there no one that can help him, papa?" + +"Yes, there is One who can give him all the help he needs." + +"You mean the One who lives up there?" said Bessie, pointing to the sky. + +"Yes. Will my Bessie pray that her friend may receive all the help he +needs from that great merciful Father?" + +"Oh, yes, papa, and you'll ask him, and my soldier will ask him, and +he'll be sure to listen; wont he?" + +Mr. Bradford did not tell his little girl that the colonel would not +ask such aid for himself; he only kissed her and carried her in. Bessie +did not forget her friend that night when she said her evening prayers. + +Maggie and Bessie went over to the hotel the next morning with their +mother. After making a visit to their grandma, they thought they would +go to see the colonel, so they ran away to his room. Mrs. Rush was +there busy, and she told them the colonel was out on the piazza. He +was reading the newspaper, but threw it down when they came, and was +very glad to see them. Bessie looked at him earnestly, to see if she +could see any signs of trouble about him. But he seemed much as usual, +laughing and talking pleasantly with them. But she could not forget +what Harry had said, and she turned her eyes so often upon him with a +questioning look that he noticed it, and said, "Well, my pet, what is +it? What do you want to know?" + +"Does something trouble you?" asked Bessie. + +"Trouble me!" he repeated. "What should trouble me?" + +"I don't know," she answered; "but I thought maybe something did." + +"What have I to trouble me?" he again asked, carelessly. "Have I not +the dearest little wife and two of the dearest little friends in the +world, as well as pretty much everything else a reasonable man could +want? To be sure, another leg would be a convenience, but that is a +small matter, and we will see what Palmer can do for me one of these +days; he will make me as good as new again." + +Bessie was not quite satisfied. Though the colonel spoke so gayly, she +felt sure there had been something wrong, if there was not now. She +still watched him wistfully, and the colonel, looking into her loving +eyes, said, "If I were in any trouble, you would help me out of it, +Bessie; would you not?" + +"If I could," she answered; "but I couldn't do very much, I'm too +little. But we know who can help us; don't we? and we can tell Him. +Mamma has a book named 'Go and tell Jesus.' Aint that a pretty name? I +asked her to read it to me, and she said I couldn't understand it now. +When I am older, she will; but I can understand the name, and I like to +think about it when I have been naughty or have a trouble." + +"May your troubles never be worse than they are now, little one," said +the colonel fondly, with a smile; "and one of your troubles is done +with, Bessie. Do you know that your enemy, Miss Adams, is gone?" + +"Oh, she is not my enemy any more," said Bessie; "we are friends now, +and I am glad of it, for I don't like to be enemies with people." + +"Ho, ho!" said the colonel. "How did that come about? I thought she +wanted to make it up with you, but I did not see how it was to come +about when you were off like a lamp-lighter every time she came near +you." + +Then Bessie told how Miss Adams' presence of mind had saved Franky from +falling into the stream, "And then we talked a little," she said, "and +I told her I was sorry I had been saucy, and kissed her, and so we are +all made up." + +"That was the way; was it?" said the colonel. "I do not think you were +the one to ask pardon." + +"Oh, she did too," said Bessie; "she said she was sorry she teased me." + +"And what else did she say?" + +"I don't think she meant me to talk about it, 'cause she didn't want +nurse to hear." + +"Then I wont ask you, honorable little woman." + +"And she sent us home in the pony-carriage when the rain was coming, +and ran all the way to our house herself, and mamma was very much +obliged to her," said Maggie. + +"Well," said the colonel, "I suppose I shall have to forgive her +too, since she saved you from a wetting, and took a bad cold in your +service. We all wondered how she came to be so drenched, but she would +not tell us how it happened." + +"Did she take cold?" asked Maggie. "Mamma said she would, but she said +nothing ever hurt her." + +"Something has hurt her this time. They say she was really ill when she +went away this morning, and some of the ladies tried to persuade her to +wait until she was better. But go she would, and go she did. Here comes +Mrs. Rush to take me for a walk. Will you go with us?" + +The children were quite ready, and, mamma's permission gained, they +went off with their friends. + +But although this was the last they saw of Miss Adams, it was not the +last they heard of her. Mrs. Bradford was right. Miss Adams had been +wet to the knees in the brook, and much heated by her long run; and +then again thoroughly drenched in the rain, and when she reached home, +the foolish girl, for the sake of making people wonder at her, would +not change her clothes. She took a violent cold, but, as the colonel +had said, insisted on travelling the next morning, and went on till she +was so ill that she was forced to give up. She had a long illness, from +which it was thought she would never recover, but she afterwards said +that this was the happiest thing that had ever happened to her in her +life. + +Sometime after this, about Christmas time, came a letter and a little +parcel to Bessie. The letter said,-- + + + "MY DEAR LITTLE BESSIE,-- + + "Tell your mother I scorned her advice the day we were + caught in the rain, and paid well for my folly, for I was + very ill; but there was a good, kind doctor, who came and + cured me, and now he is going to 'take care of me and my + money, and make me behave myself.' He thinks he can make + the 'kitchen lady' less of a mad-cap; but I do not know but + that my long illness has done that already. While I lay + sick, I had time to think, and to feel sorry that I had + acted so wildly and foolishly as to leave myself without a + true friend in the world. I shall never forget you, Bessie, + and I hope you will sometimes think kindly of me, and that + you may do so, will you ask your mother to let you wear + this bracelet in remembrance of + + CLARA ADAMS." + +The little parcel contained a very beautiful and expensive bracelet +with a clasp which made it smaller or larger, according to the size of +the arm of the wearer. + +But Mrs. Bradford did not think it a suitable thing for her little +girl, and she told Bessie she should put it away till she was grown up. + +"I sha'n't wear it then, mamma," said Bessie; "she never sent Maggie +one, and I don't want to wear what she don't. We can both look at it +sometimes, and then we can both think of Miss Adams: but we can't both +wear it, and we don't want to be dressed _different alike_." + + + + +XXII. + +_THE BROKEN NOSE._ + + +"There comes mamma with Mamie Stone," said Maggie, as they were going +back to the hotel with Colonel and Mrs. Rush. + +When Mamie saw the little girls, she ran to meet them, saying she was +going home to spend the morning with them; and Mrs. Bradford took +them all back with her. While Maggie and Bessie said their lessons, +Mamie amused herself with Franky and Nellie and the baby; and she was +delighted when nurse made her sit down on the floor, and putting the +baby in her lap, let her hold her for a few minutes. Afterwards they +all had a good play together, a doll's tea-party, and a fine swing. + +Mamie stayed to dinner, and was very good all day; and very soon after +dinner, Mr. Stone came to take his daughter home. He was a grave, +serious man, and it was rather unusual to see him with such a bright +smile, and looking so happy. He said a few words in a low tone to Mrs. +Bradford and Mrs. Duncan, and they seemed pleased too, and shook hands +with him. + +"Yes," he said, in answer to something Mrs. Bradford said to him, "I am +glad of it; it is the best thing in the world for Mamie." + +"What is it, papa?" said Mamie, springing forward; "have you got +something for me?" + +"Yes," he answered. "Will you come home and see it?" + +"What is it,--a new toy?" + +"The very prettiest plaything you ever had in your life," he answered, +with a smile. + +Mamie clapped her hands. "Can Maggie and Bessie come too?" she asked, +turning to Mrs. Bradford. + +"Not to-day," said Mrs. Bradford, "but they shall come soon." + +Mamie went away with her father, while Maggie and Bessie stood and +watched her as she went skipping along by his side, looking very happy +and eager. + +But when an hour or two later they went down on the beach and found +Mamie, she seemed anything but happy. Indeed, she looked as if nothing +pleasant had ever happened to her in her life. She was sitting on a +stone, the marks of tears all over her cheeks and now and then giving +a loud, hard sob. It was more than sulkiness or ill-humor; any one who +looked at the child could see that she was really unhappy. Martha, her +nurse, was sitting a little way off knitting, and not taking the least +notice of her. + +Maggie and Bessie ran up to her. "What is the matter, Mamie?" asked +Maggie. + +"My nose is broken," sobbed Mamie, "and my father and mother don't love +me any more." + +"Oh," exclaimed Maggie, paying attention only to the first part of +Mamie's speech, "how did it get broken?" + +"Baby did it." + +"What baby? Not ours?" + +"No, an ugly, hateful little baby that's in my mother's room." + +"How did it do it?" + +"I don't know; but Martha says it did, and she says that's the reason +my papa and mamma don't love me any more." + +"Don't they love you?" asked Bessie. + +"No, they don't," said Mamie, passionately. "Mamma tried to push me +away, and papa scolded me and took me out of the room. He never scolded +me before, and he was so angry, and it's all for that hateful little +baby. Oh, dear, oh, dear! what shall I do?" + +"Wasn't you naughty?" asked Maggie. + +"I sha'n't tell you," said Mamie. + +"Then I know you was. If you hadn't been, you'd say, 'No!'" + +Mamie did not answer. Bessie walked round her, looking at her nose, +first on one side, then on the other. + +"I don't see where it's broken," she said. "It looks very good. Will it +blow now?" + +"I don't know," said Mamie. "I'm afraid to try. Oh, dear!" + +"Does it hurt?" asked Bessie. + +"No, not much; but I expect it's going to." + +"Maybe we can feel where it's broken," said Maggie. "Let's squeeze it a +little." + +"I wont let you," said Mamie. "But I'll let Bessie, 'cause she's so +softly." + +Bessie squeezed the nose, first very gently, then a little harder, but +it seemed all right, and felt just as a nose ought to feel. Then Mamie +let Maggie squeeze; but she pinched harder than Bessie had done, and +hurt it a little. + +"Oh, you hurt! Go away!" said Mamie, and set up an angry cry. + +Martha, who had been talking to Jane, rose at this. "Come, now," she +said, "just have done with this. I wont have any more crying, you bad +child." + +"Go away!" screamed Mamie, as Martha came near; "you're bad yourself. +Oh, I want my mamma!" + +"Your mamma don't want you then, little broken nose. Have done with +that crying." + +"I'll tell mamma of you," said Mamie. + +"Oh, you needn't be running with your tales now. Your mamma has got +some one else to attend to." + +"That's a shame, Martha," said Jane. "She's just teasing you, Miss +Mamie; your mamma does care for you." + +"Martha," said Bessie, "I'm glad you're not my nurse; I wouldn't love +you if you were." + +"There's no living with her. She'll be cured of her spoiled ways now," +said Martha, as she tried to drag the struggling, screaming child away. +But Mamie would not stir a step. She was in a great rage, and fought +and kicked and struck Martha; but just then Mrs. Bradford was seen +coming towards them. + +"What is the matter?" she asked. + +"She's just going on this way because of the baby, ma'am," said Martha. + +"Mamie," said Mrs. Bradford, "you don't look like the happy little girl +who left us a short time ago." + +Mamie stopped screaming, and held out one hand to Mrs. Bradford, but +Martha kept fast hold of the other, and tried to make her come away. + +"Let her come to me, Martha," said the lady; "I want to speak to her." + +Martha looked sulky, but she let go of Mamie, and walked away +muttering. Mrs. Bradford sat down on the rock and took Mamie on her lap. + +"Now, Mamie, what is the matter?" she asked, kindly. "I thought I +should find you so pleasant and happy." + +"My nose is broken," sobbed Mamie, "and oh, dear! my papa and mamma +don't love me any more. I would not care if my nose was broken, if they +only loved me." + +"They do love you just as much as they ever did," said Mrs. Bradford, +"and your nose is not broken. How should it come to be broken?" + +"There's an ugly baby in mamma's room," said Mamie. "The bad little +thing did it." + +"Oh, nonsense!" said Mrs. Bradford, "how could such a little thing +break your nose? Even if it were to give you a blow, which I am sure it +did not, that tiny fist could not hurt you much." + +"Martha said it did," said Mamie. + +"Then Martha told you what was not true. That is a very foolish, wicked +way which some people have of telling a little child that its nose +is broken, when a baby brother or sister comes to share its parents' +love. And it is quite as untrue to say that your father and mother do +not love you any longer. They love you just as much as they ever did, +and will love you more if you are kind to the baby, and set it a good +example." + +"But I don't want it to be mamma's," said Mamie. "I'm her baby, and I +don't want her to have another." + +"But you are six years old," said Mrs. Bradford. "You surely do not +want to be called a baby now! Why, Franky would be quite offended if +any one called him a baby. This morning, when you were playing with my +little Annie, you said you did wish you had a baby at home, to play +with all the time; and now, when God has sent you the very thing you +wanted, you are making yourself miserable about it." + +"But it isn't a nice, pretty baby like yours," said Mamie. "It don't +play and crow like little Annie, and it don't love me either. It made a +face and rolled up its fist at me." + +"Poor little thing!" said Mrs. Bradford, "it did not know any better. +Such very small babies do not know how to play. For some time this +little sister must be watched and nursed very carefully by its mother, +for it is weak and helpless; but when it is a little older, though it +must be cared for still, it will begin to hold up its head and take +notice, and play and crow, as Annie does. Then she will know you, and +be pleased when you come, if you are kind to her. By and by you may +help to teach her to walk and talk. Think what a pleasure that will +be! The first words Franky spoke were taught to him by Maggie, and the +first one of all was 'Mag.'" + +Mamie stopped crying, and sat leaning her head against Mrs. Bradford as +she listened. + +"But I know my father and mother don't love me so much now," she said. +"Mamma did try to push me away, and papa scolded me so, and he never +did it before." + +"Then I am sure you deserved it. I am afraid you must have been very +naughty. Now tell me all about it," said Mrs. Bradford, smoothing back +Mamie's disordered hair, and wiping her heated, tear-stained face with +her own soft, cool handkerchief. "Perhaps we can cure some of your +troubles by talking a little about them. When your father came for you +this afternoon, it seemed to me that half his own pleasure came from +the thought that the baby was to bring so much happiness to you. That +did not look as if he did not love you; did it?" + +"No, but he was angry with me." + +"Tell me what happened after you went home with him?" + +Mamie put her finger in her mouth and hung her head, but after a moment +she looked up and said,-- + +"He took me into mamma's room, and there was a woman there I did not +know, and that baby was in the bed with mamma." + +"And what then?" + +"Mamma told me to come and see my darling little sister, and I cried +and said I would not have her for my sister, and she should not stay +there. And papa said I was naughty, and that woman said she would not +have such a noise there, and I must go away if I was not quiet, and +that made me madder. I wasn't going to be sent out of my own mamma's +room for that baby. If she was its nurse, she could take it away. It +hadn't any business there, and then--then--" + +Mamie was beginning to feel ashamed, and to see that the most of her +trouble came from her own naughtiness. + +"Well, dear," said Mrs. Bradford, gently, "and then?" + +"And then I tried to pull the baby away, and I tried to slap the bad +little thing." + +"Oh, Mamie!" exclaimed Maggie and Bessie. + +"That was the reason your papa was angry, was it not?" asked Mrs. +Bradford. + +"Yes, ma'am. Mamma pushed me away, and papa carried me out of the room, +and oh, he did scold me so! He called Martha, and told her to take me +away. Then she said my nose was broken, and papa and mamma would not +love me any more, because the baby had come. Oh! I would be good, if +they would let me go back to mamma, and she would love me." + +"She does love you just as much as ever. You see, my child, you +frightened and disturbed her when you tried to hurt that tender little +baby. She cares for you just as much as she did before, and I am sure +she is grieving now because you were naughty, and had to be sent away +from her. And your papa, too, when you see him, only tell him you mean +to be a good child, and kind to the baby, and you will find you are +still his own little Mamie, whom he loves so dearly, and for whose +comfort and pleasure he is always caring. I am sorry Martha has told +you such cruel, wicked stories. There is not a word of truth in them, +and you must always trust your father and mother. I am sure your dear +little sister will be as great a delight to you as Annie is to Maggie +and Bessie, and that you will learn to love her dearly; but you must +be kind and loving yourself, dear, not selfish and jealous, if you +should have to give up a little to baby. It was jealousy which made you +so unhappy. Jealousy is a wicked, hateful feeling, one which is very +displeasing in the sight of God, and which makes the person who gives +way to it very miserable." + +"It was Martha who made her jealous," said Maggie. "Martha is a very +bad nurse; she is not fit to have the care of a child. Nurse said so, +and that she told wicked stories; so she does, for I have heard her +myself she is very _deceptious_." + +"Well," said her mother, "I hope Mamie will be too wise to mind what +Martha says after this." + +"I will try to be good," said Mamie, "and I do love you, Mrs. Bradford. +Do you think, when the baby is older, I can hold her on my lap like I +did Annie?" + +"I have not a doubt of it. I cannot tell you in how many ways she will +be a pleasure to you, if you teach her to be fond of you, and she will +be, as your father said, the very prettiest plaything you have ever +had. There comes your papa now;" and Mamie, looking up, saw her father +coming towards them. + +Mr. Stone looked grave and troubled, and turned his eyes anxiously +towards Mamie as he spoke to Mrs. Bradford. + +"Here is a little girl who thinks she has not behaved well, and wishes +to tell you so," said Mrs. Bradford. + +Mr. Stone held out his arms to Mamie, and in another moment she was +clinging round his neck, with her face against his. + +"Oh, I will be good! Will you please love me again?" + +"Love you? and who ever thought of not loving you?" said Mr. Stone. +"Poor little woman, you did not think your father would ever cease to +love his own Mamie? Not if a dozen daughters came. No, indeed, my pet; +and now do you not want to go and see your poor mamma again, and be a +good, quiet girl? She is feeling very badly about you." + +So Mamie went off with her father, feeling quite satisfied that her +nose was as good as ever, and that her father and mother loved her just +as much as they had done before the baby came to claim a share of their +hearts. + + + + +XXIII. + +_JESUS' SOLDIER._ + + +One warm, bright Sunday morning, Mrs. Rush came over to the cottage. +Old Mr. Duncan was sitting on the piazza reading to the children. On +the grass in front of the porch, lay Uncle John, playing with Nellie. +She shook hands with the gentlemen, and kissed the children--Bessie +two or three times with long, tender kisses--and then went into the +sitting-room to see their mother. There was no one there but Mr. and +Mrs. Bradford. + +"Mrs. Bradford," said Mrs. Rush, when she had bidden them good-morning, +"I have come to ask you a favor. This is the first Sunday morning since +we have been here that my husband has been able and willing to have +me leave him to go to church, but to-day he is pretty well, and Mrs. +Stanton has offered me a seat in her carriage. I could not leave the +colonel quite alone, and he wishes to have Bessie. Will you let her +come over and stay with him while I am gone?" + +"Certainly," said Mrs. Bradford. "I do not, as you know, approve of +Sunday visiting for my children, except when they may be of some use or +comfort, then, indeed, I should never hesitate to let them go." + +"Bessie can indeed be of use, and oh! I trust a help and comfort to +him. Dear Mrs. Bradford," she went on, the tears starting to her +eyes, "I think, I am sure, that God's Spirit is striving with my dear +husband, and he knows not where to look for help. But he has so long +hardened his heart, so firmly closed his ears against all his friends +could say to him, so coldly refused to hear one word on the subject, +that he is now too proud to ask where he must seek it. I am sure, quite +sure, that it has been your dear little Bessie's unquestioning faith, +her love and trust in the power and goodness of the Almighty and, +more than all, her firm belief that one for whom he had done so much, +and preserved through so many dangers, must of necessity have a double +share of faith and love, which has touched his heart. He is restless +and unhappy, though he tries to hide it, and I think he is almost +anxious to have me away this morning, that he may have her alone with +him, in the hope that he may hear something in her simple talk which +will show him where to go for aid. He will hear and ask from her what +he will hear and ask from no one else." + +"My little Bessie! That baby!" said Mrs. Bradford, in great surprise. +"Do you mean to tell me that anything she has said has had power with +him?" + +"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Rush. "I think the first thing that roused +him was one day when he was very ill, and she was in his room. She +thought him asleep, and in her pretty, childish way spoke of the love +she thought he had for his Saviour, and how he had been spared that +he might love and serve him more and more. Horace was touched then, +and her words took hold of him I could see, though he tried to seem +impatient and vexed, and would not permit me to allude to them. So it +was again and again. She was always saying some little thing which +would not let him forget or keep his heart closed. She was so fond of +him, so pretty and sweet in all her ways, that he had not the heart +to check her, even when it annoyed him. And besides, I know he could +not bear that her trust in him should be shaken by the knowledge that +he was not what she thought him,--a Christian. Then came the day when +Bessie fell into such trouble with Miss Adams. Annie came to our room, +telling of it, and of the poor child's touching repentance. Horace sat +silent for a good while after Annie had gone away; at last he said, +'Poor innocent little lamb! and she is so earnestly seeking forgiveness +for the trifling fault which is far more the sin of another than her +own, while I--' There he stopped, and indeed it seemed as if he had +been speaking more to himself than to me. It was the first word I had +ever heard from him which showed that he was allowing the thought +of his own need of forgiveness, but I dared not speak. I felt that +that baby was doing what I could not do. The tiny grain of mustard +seed dropped by that little hand had taken root on a hard and stony +ground, it might be; but I could only pray that the dews of heaven +might fall upon it, and cause it to grow and bring forth fruit. It is +years, I believe, since he has opened a Bible. He made me move mine +from the table, for he said he did not want to see it about. I have +almost feared he would forbid me to read it, and here I felt I must +resist him. Even his wishes or commands must not come between me and +the precious words in which I found so much comfort and strength. But +the other day I had to leave him alone for a little while. I had been +reading my Bible, and left it lying on my chair. When I came back, it +lay upon the window-ledge. There had been no one there to touch it +but my husband, and he must have left his seat to reach it. With what +purpose? I thought, with a sudden hope. Yesterday it was the same. I +had been away for a few minutes, and when I came back, the colonel +started from the window where he was standing, and walked as quickly +as he could to his sofa. My Bible lay where I had left it, but a mark +and a dried flower had fallen from it. I was sure now. He had been +searching within for something which might help him, but was still +unwilling to ask for human or divine guidance. Since then I have left +it again on his table, but he has not made me move it, as he would have +done a month ago. And this morning, when Mrs. Stanton sent for me, and +I asked him if he could spare me, he said so kindly, but so sadly,-- + +"'Yes, yes, go. I fear I have too often thrown difficulties in your +way, poor child; but I shall never do so again. Only, Marion, do not +leave your husband too far behind.' + +"Then I said I would not leave him, but he insisted, and went back to +his careless manner, and said, if you would let him, he would have +Bessie for his nurse this morning. I said I would ask, but he had +better let Starr sit in the room, lest he should want anything she +could not do. But he said no, he would have none but Bessie, and told +me to send Starr at once. But I came myself, for I wanted to tell you +all I felt and hoped. Now, if Bessie comes to him, and he opens the +way, as he may with her, she will talk to him in her loving, trusting +spirit, and perhaps bring him help and comfort." + +Mr. Bradford had risen from his seat, and walked up and down the room +as she talked. Now he stood still, and said, very low and gently, "And +a little child shall lead them." + +When Mrs. Rush had gone, Mrs. Bradford called Bessie. "Bessie," she +said, taking her little daughter in her arms and holding her very +closely, "how would you like to go over and take care of your soldier +this morning, and let Mrs. Rush go to church?" + +"All by myself, mamma?" + +"Yes, dear. Do you think you will be tired? We shall be gone a good +while. It is a long ride to church." + +"Oh, no, I wont be tired a bit," said Bessie, "and I'll take such good +care of him. Mamma, are you sorry about something?" + +"No, dear, only very glad and happy." + +"Oh," said Bessie, "I thought I saw a tear in your eye when you kissed +me; I s'pose I didn't." + +When the wagon started for church with the rest of the family, Bessie +went with them as far as the hotel, where she was left, and taken to +the colonel's room by Mrs. Rush. + +"Now what shall I do to amuse you, Bessie?" said the colonel, when his +wife had gone. + +"Why, I don't want to be amused on Sunday," said Bessie, looking very +grave. "Franky has his playthings, and baby has her yattle, 'cause they +don't know any better. I used to have my toys, too, when I was young, +but I am too big now. I mean I'm not very big, but I am pretty old, and +I do know better. Besides, I must do something for you. I am to be your +little nurse and take care of you, mamma said." + +"What are you going to do for me?" + +"Just what you want me to." + +"Well, I think I should like you to talk to me a little." + +"What shall I talk about? Shall I tell you my hymn for to-day?" + +"Yes, if you like." + +"Every day mamma teaches us a verse of a hymn," said Bessie, "till we +know it all, and then on Sunday we say it to papa. I'll say the one +for this week, to-night; but first I'll say it to you. It's such a +pretty one. Sometimes mamma chooses our hymns, and sometimes she lets +us choose them, but I choosed this myself. I heard mamma sing it, and +I liked it so much I asked her to teach it to me, and she did. Shall I +say it to you now?" + +"Yes," said the colonel, and climbing on the sofa on which he sat, +she put one little arm over his shoulder, and repeated very slowly and +correctly:-- + + "I was a wandering sheep; + I did not love the fold; + I did not love my Father's voice; + I would not be controlled. + I was a wayward child; + I did not love my home; + I did not love my Shepherd's voice; + I loved afar to roam. + + "The Shepherd sought his sheep; + The Father sought his child; + They followed me o'er vale and hill, + O'er deserts waste and wild. + They found me nigh to death; + Famished and faint and lone; + They bound me with the bands of love; + They saved the wandering one. + + "Jesus my Shepherd is; + 'Twas he that loved my soul; + 'Twas he that washed me in his blood; + 'Twas he that made me whole; + 'Twas he that sought the lost, + That found the wandering sheep; + 'Twas he that brought me to the fold; + 'Tis he that still doth keep. + + "No more a wandering sheep, + I love to be controlled; + I love my tender Shepherd's voice; + I love the peaceful fold. + No more a wayward child, + I seek no more to roam; + I love my heavenly Father's voice; + I love, I love his home." + +"Isn't it sweet?" she asked, when she had finished. + +"Say it again, my darling," said the colonel. + +She went through it once more. + +"Where is that hymn?" asked the colonel. "Is it in that book of hymns +Marion has?" + +"I don't know," said Bessie. "Mamma did not say it out of that; but we +will see." + +She slipped down from the sofa, and going for the hymn-book, brought it +to the colonel. He began slowly turning over the leaves, looking for +the hymn. + +"Why, that is not the way," said Bessie; "don't you know how to find a +hymn yet? Here is the way:" and she turned to the end of the book, and +showed him the table of first lines. No, it was not there. "I'll ask +mamma to lend you her book, if you want to yead it for yourself," said +Bessie. "She will, I know." + +"No, no," said the colonel, "I do not wish you to." + +"But she'd just as lief, I know." + +"Never mind, darling; I would rather not," said Colonel Rush, as he +laid down the book. + +"Shall I say another?" asked Bessie. + +"I should like to hear that one again," said the colonel, "if you do +not mind saying it so often." + +"Oh, no; I like to say it. I guess you like it as much as I do, you +want to hear it so many times. I was glad that I learned it before, but +I am gladder now when you like it so;" and the third time she repeated +the hymn. + +"The Shepherd," she said when she was through; "that means our +Saviour,--does it not?--and the big people are the sheep, and the +children the lambs. Maggie and I are his lambs, and you are his sheep; +and you are his soldier too. You are a little bit my soldier, but you +are a great deal his soldier; are you not?" + +The colonel did not answer. He was leaning his head on his hand, and +his face was turned a little from her. + +"Say, are you not?" repeated Bessie,--"are you not his soldier?" + +"I'm afraid not, Bessie," he said, turning his face towards her, and +speaking very slowly. "If I were his soldier, I should fight for him; +but I have been fighting against him all my life." + +"Why?" said the little girl, a good deal startled, but not quite +understanding him; "don't you love him?" + +"No, Bessie." + +It was pitiful to see the look of distress and wonder which came over +the child's face. "Don't you love him?" she said again,--"don't you +love our Saviour? Oh, you don't mean that,--you only want to tease me. +But you wouldn't make believe about such a thing as that. Don't you +really love him? How can you help it?" + +"Bessie," said the colonel, with a kind of groan, "I want to love him, +but I don't know how. Don't cry so, my darling." + +"Oh," said the child, stopping her sobs, "if you want to love him, +he'll teach you how. Tell him you want to; ask him to make you love +him, and he will. I know he will, 'cause he loves you so." + +"Loves me?" said the colonel. + +"Yes; he loves you all the time, even if you don't love him. I think +that's what my hymn means. Even when we go away from him, he'll come +after us, and try to make us love him. I know it's wicked and unkind +not to love him, when he came and died for us. But if you're sorry, he +wont mind about that any more, and he will forgive you. He will forgive +every one when they ask him, and tell him they're sorry. The other +day, when I was so wicked and in such a passion, and struck Mr. Lovatt, +I asked Jesus to forgive me, and he did. I know he did. I used to be +in passions very often, and he helped me when I asked him; and now he +makes me better; and he'll forgive you too, and make you better." + +"I fear there can be no forgiveness for me, Bessie. I have lived seven +times as long as you, my child, and all that time, I have been sinning +and sinning. I have driven God from me, and hardened my heart against +the Lord Jesus. I would not even let any one speak to me of him." + +"Never matter," said Bessie, tenderly. "I don't mean never matter, +'cause it is matter. But he will forgive that when he sees you are +so sorry, and he will be sorry for you; and he does love you. If he +didn't love you, he couldn't come to die for you, so his Father could +forgive you, and take you to heaven. There's a verse, I know, about +that; mamma teached it to me a good while ago. It hangs in our nursery +just like a picture, all in pretty bright letters; and we have 'Suffer +little children,' too. It is 'God so loved the world that he gave his +only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, +but have eternal life.' Mamma says the world means everybody." + +"Could you find that verse for me, Bessie?" asked the colonel. + +"I don't know, sir; I can't find things in the Bible,--only a few; but +Jesus said it to a man named Nicodemus, who came to him and wanted to +be teached. He'll teach you, too, out of his Bible. Oh, wont you ask +him?" + +"I will try, darling," he said. + +"I'll get your Bible, and we'll see if we can find that verse," said +Bessie. "Where is your Bible?" + +"I have none," he answered; "at least, I have one somewhere at home, I +believe, but I do not know where it is. My mother gave it to me, but I +have never read it since I was a boy." + +"Oh, here's Mrs. Yush's on the table," said Bessie; "she always keeps +it on the window-seat, and she always made me put it back there; but I +s'pose she forgot and left it here." + +She brought the Bible, and sat down by the colonel. + +"I can find, 'Suffer little children,'" she said, turning to the +eighteenth chapter of Matthew. "I can yead you a little bit, if you +tell me the big words: 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and +forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' Isn't it sweet?" + +"Yes; and I can believe it," he said, laying his hand on Bessie's head; +"of such is the kingdom of heaven." + +Bessie turned to the fifteenth chapter of Luke. "Here's about the +prodigal son," she said, "but it's too long for me. Will you please +yead it?" + +He took the Bible from her, and read the chapter very slowly and +thoughtfully, reading the parable a second time. Then he turned the +leaves over, stopping now and then to read a verse to himself. + +"If you want what Jesus said to Nicodemus, look there," said Bessie, +pointing to the headings of the chapters. + +He soon found the third of John, and sat for a long time with his eyes +fixed on the sixteenth and seventeenth verses. Bessie sat looking at +him without speaking. + +"What are you thinking of, my pet?" he asked at last, laying down the +book. + +"I was thinking how you could be so brave when you didn't love Him," +she said "Didn't it make you afraid when you was in a danger?" + +"No," he said; "I hadn't even faith enough to be afraid." + +"And that night didn't you feel afraid you wouldn't go to heaven when +you died?" + +"The thought would come sometimes, Bessie, but I put it from me, as I +had done all my life. I tried to think only of home and Marion and my +sister. Will you say that hymn again for me, Bessie?" + +"Shall I say, 'I need thee, precious Jesus'?" she asked, after she had +again repeated, "I was a wandering sheep;" "I think you do need our +precious Jesus." + +"Yes," he said, and she said for him, "I need thee, precious Jesus." + +"Shall I ask papa to come and see you, and tell you about Jesus?" she +said, when her father and mother stopped for her on their way from +church. "I am so little, I don't know much, but he knows a great deal." + +"No, dear, I want no better teacher than I have had," said Colonel Rush. + +"Who?" asked Bessie. + +But the colonel only kissed her, and told her not to keep her father +and mother waiting; and so she went away. + +But that afternoon there came a little note to Mr. Bradford from Mrs. +Rush:-- + + + "DEAR FRIEND,-- + + "Can you come to my husband? He has opened his heart to me, + and asked for you. + + "MARION RUSH." + +Mr. Bradford went over directly. + +The colonel looked pale and worn, and had a tired, anxious expression +in his eye. But after Mr. Bradford came in, he talked of everything but +that of which he was thinking so much, though it seemed as if he did +not feel a great deal of interest in what he was saying. At last his +wife rose to go away, but he called her back, and told her to stay. He +was silent for a little while, till Mr. Bradford laid his hand on his +arm. + +"Rush, my friend," he said, "are you looking for the light?" + +The colonel did not speak for a moment then he said in a low voice,-- + +"No; I _see_ the light, but it is too far away I cannot reach to where +its beams may fall upon me. I see it. It was a tiny hand, that of your +precious little child, which pointed it out, and showed me the way by +which I must go; but my feet have so long trodden the road which leads +to death, that now, when I would set my face the other way, they falter +and stumble. I cannot even stand, much less go forward. Bradford, I am +a far worse cripple there than I am in this outer world." + +"There is one prop which cannot fail you," said Mr. Bradford. "Throw +away all others, and cast yourself upon the almighty arm which is +stretched out to sustain and aid you. You may not see it in the +darkness which is about you, but it is surely there, ready to receive +and uphold you. Only believe, and trust yourself to it, and it will +bear you onwards and upwards to the light, unto the shining of the +perfect day." + +Colonel Rush did not answer, and Mr. Bradford, opening the Bible, read +the 92d and 118th Psalms. Then he chose the chapter which the colonel +and Bessie had read in the morning, and after he had talked a little, + +"Marion," said the colonel, after some time, "do you know a hymn +beginning + + 'I was a wandering sheep'?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Rush; and in her low, sweet voice, she sang it to +him. Next she sang, "Just as I am," twice over,--for he asked for it a +second time,--then both sat silent for a long while. + +The rosy light of the August sunset died out of the west, the evening +star which little Bessie had once said looked "like God's eye taking +care of her when she went to sleep," shone out bright and peaceful; +then, as it grew darker and darker, came forth another and another +star, and looked down on the world which God had loved so much, till +the whole sky was brilliant with them; the soft, cool sea-breeze came +gently in at the windows, bringing with it the gentle plash of the +waves upon the shore, mingled with the chirp of the crickets and the +distant hum of voices from the far end of the piazza; but no one came +near or disturbed them; and still the colonel sat with his face turned +towards the sea, without either speaking or moving, till his wife, as +she sat with her hand in his, wondered if he could be asleep. + +At last he spoke, "Marion." + +"Yes, love." + +"The light is shining all around me, and I can stand in it--with my +hand upon the cross." + +"Bessie," said the colonel, when she came to him the next morning, +"I have found your Saviour. He is my Saviour now, and I shall be his +soldier, and fight for him as long as I shall live." + + + + +530 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, +March, 1884. + +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS + +NEW BOOKS. + + + =HANDS FULL OF HONEY=, and other Sermons, preached in 1883, + by C. H. SPURGEON. 12mo. $1.00. + + + =THE PRESENT TRUTH.= New Sermons by C. H. 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NEWTON'S BOOKS.= + +LITTLE AND WISE $1.25 +THE WICKET GATE 1.25 +THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE 1.25 +THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL 1.25 + +=BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR OF "WIN AND WEAR."= + +WIN AND WEAR SERIES. 6 vols. 16mo $7.50 +THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STORIES. 5 vols. 16mo 6.00 +LEDGESIDE SERIES. 6 vols. 16mo 7.50 +FAITH THURSTON'S WORK 1.25 +HIGHLAND SERIES. 6 vols. 16mo 7.50 +HESTER TRUEWORTHY'S ROYALTY 1.25 +MABEL'S STEPMOTHER 1.25 +BUTTERFLY'S FLIGHTS. 3 vols. 18mo 2.25 + +=JULIA MATHEWS' BOOKS.= + +=Drayton Hall Series.= 6 vols. $4.50 + LAWRENCE BRONSON'S VICTORY .75 + CHRISTY'S GRANDSON .75 + ALLAN HAYWOOD .75 + FRANK AUSTIN'S DIAMOND .75 + EAGLE CRAG .75 + TRUE TO HIS FLAG .75 + +=Golden Ladder Series.= + 3 vols. 16mo $3.00 +=Dare to Do Right.= 5 vols. 16mo .50 + GRANDFATHER'S FAITH 1.10 + OUR FOUR BOYS 1.10 + GIUSEPPE'S HOME 1.10 + NELLIE'S STUMBLING-BLOCK 1.10 + SUSY'S SACRIFICE 1.10 +KATY AND JIM, containing + "LITTLE KATY" and + "JOLLY AND KATY" 1.25 + +=JOANNA H. MATHEWS' BOOKS.= + +=Bessie Books.= 6 vols., 16mo, + in a box $7.50 + AT THE SEASIDE 1.25 + IN THE CITY 1.25 + AND HER FRIENDS 1.25 + AMONG THE MOUNTAINS 1.25 + AT SCHOOL 1.25 + ON HER TRAVELS 1.25 +=Flowerets.= 6 vols., 18mo, in a box 3.60 +=Little Sunbeams.= 6 vols., + 16mo., in a box 6.00 + BELLE POWERS' LOCKET 1.00 + DORA'S MOTTO 1.00 + LILY NORRIS' ENEMY 1.00 + JESSIE'S PARROT 1.00 + MAMIE'S WATCHWORD 1.00 + NELLIE'S HOUSEKEEPING 1.00 +=Kitty and Lulu Books.= + 6 vols., 18mo, in a box 3.60 +=Miss Ashton's Girls.= 6 vols. 7.50 + FANNY'S BIRTHDAY GIFT 1.25 + THE NEW SCHOLARS 1.25 + ROSALIE'S PET 1.25 + ELEANOR'S VISIT 1.25 + MABEL WALTON'S EXPERIMENT 1.25 + ELSIE'S SANTA CLAUS 1.25 +=Haps and Mishaps.= 6 vols. 7.50 + LITTLE FRIENDS AT GLENWOOD 1.25 + THE BROKEN MALLET 1.25 + BLACKBERRY JAM 1.25 + MILLY'S WHIMS 1.25 + LILIES OR THISTLEDOWN 1.25 + UNCLE JOE'S THANKSGIVING 1.25 + +=CATHERINE SHAW'S BOOKS.= + +THE GABLED FARM $1.25 +NELLIE ARUNDEL 1.25 +IN THE SUNLIGHT 1.25 +HILDA. 12 mo 1.25 +ONLY A COUSIN 1.25 +OUT IN THE STORM .50 +ALICK'S HERO 1.25 + +=EMILY BRODIE'S BOOKS.= + +JEAN LINDSAY $1.25 +DORA HAMILTON'S CHOICE 1.25 +ELSIE GORDON 1.25 +UNCLE FRED'S SHILLING 1.25 +LONELY JACK 1.25 +RUTH'S RESCUE .50 +NORA CLINTON 1.25 + +=L. T. MEADE'S BOOKS.= + +SCAMP AND I $1.25 +DAVID'S LITTLE LAD 1.25 +A KNIGHT OF TO-DAY 1.50 +WATER GIPSIES 1.00 +YOUR BROTHER AND MINE 1.00 +BEL-MARJORY 1.50 +DOT AND HER TREASURES 1.00 +THE CHILDREN'S KINGDOM 1.50 +ANDREW HARVEY'S WIFE 1.00 +NORA CRENA 1.00 +MOTHER HERRING'S CHICKEN 1.00 + +=PEEP OF DAY LIBRARY.= 8 vols. 18mo. $4.50. + +LINE UPON LINE $ .50 +PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT .50 +THE KINGS OF ISRAEL .60 +THE KINGS OF JUDAH .60 +CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH .60 +PEEP OF DAY .50 +SEQUEL TO PEEP OF DAY .60 +STORY OF THE APOSTLES .60 + +=M. L. CHARLESWORTH'S BOOKS.= + +MINISTERING CHILDREN $1.50 +SEQUEL TO MINISTERING CHILDREN 1.50 +ENGLAND'S YEOMEN 1.50 +OLIVER OF THE MILL 1.50 +DOROTHY COPE, containing + "THE OLD LOOKING-GLASS" + and "BROKEN LOOKING-GLASS" $1.50 + + +DEVOTIONAL BOOKS. + + =BICKERSTETH, REV. E. H.= YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND + FOREVER. 18mo, 50 cents; 16mo, $1.00; 12mo, $1.50. + + =BOGATZKY, C. V. H.= GOLDEN TREASURY. 24mo, gilt. 75 + cents. + + =BONAR, HORATIUS, D.D.= + +HYMNS OF FAITH AND HOPE, 3 vols. 18mo, gilt top $2.25 +HYMNS OF THE NATIVITY, 18mo, gilt $1.00 + + =CLARKE'S SCRIPTURE PROMISES.= 24mo, red edges. 50 cents. + + =DICKSON, REV. ALEXANDER.= + +ALL ABOUT JESUS. 12mo $2.00 +BEAUTY FOR ASHES. 12mo $2.00 + + =DYKES, J. OSWALD, D.D.= PRAYERS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. + $1.25. + + =FAMILY WORSHIP.= PRAYERS FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. + $2.50. + + =FLETCHER, ALEXANDER, D.D.= FAMILY DEVOTION. Quarto, + gilt. $5.00. + + =JAY, REV. WILLIAM.= MORNING AND EVENING EXERCISES. + 2 vols. 12mo. $2.00. + + =LOGAN, WILLIAM.= WORD OF COMFORT TO BEREAVED + PARENTS. $1.00. + + =MACDUFF, JOHN R., D.D.= + +BOW IN THE CLOUD. 18mo, limp $ .50 +GATES OF PRAYER. 18mo, limp, red edges .75 +MIND AND WORDS OF JESUS. + 24mo, limp, gilt, 60 cts.; red edges .50 +MORNING AND NIGHT WATCHES. + 24mo, limp, gilt, 60 cts.; red edges .50 +FAMILY PRAYERS. 16mo 1.00 +MIND AND WORDS OF JESUS + and MORNING AND NIGHT + WATCHES, in 1 vol. 24mo, + red-line edition, gilt 1.50 +GLEAMS FROM THE SICK CHAMBER. .75 +WELLS OF BACA. 24mo, gilt edges .50 +VOICES OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. .75 + + =MORE, HANNAH.= PRIVATE DEVOTION. 24mo, gilt, 60 + cents; red edges, 50 cents. + + =RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS.= 8vo. $2.50. + + =SMITH, REV. JAMES.= DAILY REMEMBRANCER. 18mo, gilt + edges. $1.00. + + =SPURGEON, REV. CHARLES H.= + +MORNING BY MORNING. 12mo $1.00 +EVENING BY EVENING. 12mo $1.00 + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Minor punctuation errors were silently corrected. + +Twenty-nine instances of "wont" were retained as dialect or the +author's preference; "won't" was used 13 times. + +Six instances of "aint" were retained as dialect or the author's +preference; "ain't" was used 2 times. + +Page 26: "Mary" and "Mamie" are used interchangeably for the same girl. + +Page 216: "affghan" may be a typo for "afghan." + (Orig: lay neatly folded, a tiny affghan.) + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bessie at the Sea-Side, by Joanna Mathews + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BESSIE AT THE SEA-SIDE *** + +***** This file should be named 44780.txt or 44780.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/7/8/44780/ + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Diane Monico, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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